Only four Karate 1-Premier League events were held in 2022 ©Getty Images

Next year's Karate 1-Premier League event in Cairo is to count towards determining the overall winners of the 2022 season.

The World Karate Federation (WKF) has taken the decision after it was unable to stage the planned number of Karate 1-Premier League legs this season.

A fifth leg was moved from Moscow to Los Angeles because of the war in Ukraine, then later cancelled because of logistical difficulties in the United States.

Adding results from Egypt to the overall standings means grand winners still still be decided after five legs.

A requirement that athletes compete in at least three events on two continents will still be enforced.

Dublin has been added to the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League calendar ©Getty Images
Dublin has been added to the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League calendar ©Getty Images

Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, Matosinhos in Portugal, Morocco's capital Rabat and Azeri counterpart Baku staged this year's four Karate 1-Premier League events.

Rabat is the only one of the four hosts which has been maintained on the 2023 calendar.

As well as Cairo and Rabat, Fukuoka in Japan and Irish capital Dublin are due to stage legs.

There are only four scheduled and results in Cairo will also count towards determining 2023's overall winners.

The Karate 1-Premier League is the WKF's premier circuit, second only to the World Championships.