A host of the sport's top names are set to compete when Dubai stages the second event of the Karate 1-Premier League season ©WKF

A host of the sport's top names are set to compete when Dubai stages the second event of the Karate 1-Premier League season this weekend.

The World Karate Federation has announced around 800 athletes from 86 countries will take part over three days of competition at the Al WASL Club venue.

The list of entrants includes the formidable Japanese duo of Ryo Kiyuna and Kiyou Shimizu, the reigning world champions in the men's and women's kata disciplines respectively.

Kiyuna and Shimizu will be aiming to continue their dominance following their victories at the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris last month in Dubai.

Frenchman Steven Dacosta, reigning world men's under-68 kilograms kumite gold medallist, is among the other athletes scheduled to compete this weekend.

Several athletes who won gold at the last event in Paris are set to compete in Dubai ©WKF
Several athletes who won gold at the last event in Paris are set to compete in Dubai ©WKF

He will be joined by fellow Grand Winners Serap Ozcelik of Turkey and Gwendoline Philippe, also of France.

The trio will bid to follow Kiyuna and Shimizu in clinching their second consecutive gold medals on this year's Karate 1-Premier League circuit.

The event will begin with two days of qualification across the kata and various kumite weight divisions before all medal bouts take place on Sunday (February 17).

The three-day competition will act as a dress rehearsal for the 2020 World Championships, due to be held in Dubai after the sport has made its debut on the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020.