World Championships Senior
Damian Quintero: The World Team Championships in Pamplona would be a perfect end to my career
2023-10-24
Damian Quintero became one of the biggest stars of day 1 of the 2023 World Karate Championships being held in Budapest (Hungary). The Spanish Kata hero qualified for his fourth World Championships final and aims at taking his first World title after three silver medals.
“It’s been a very good year for me. After winning gold in Cairo and all the good results I got in other events, I managed to be in the final of the World Championships which was my third big goal this year after the European Games and European Championships,” said the Olympic Games silver medallist.
SHOWING STRENGTH AT ELIMINATIONS
Quintero prevailed in all the pools of the elimination rounds on Day 1 of #KarateBudapest2023. He got a score of 41.9 with “Kururunfa” kata in his opening performance and he went to lead round 2 with “Suparinpei” and a score of 43.2. In the final pool, he defeated Olympic Games bronze medallist Ariel Torres among others with a score of 43.1 and “Anan Dai”.
“I did better as the rounds progressed. I was not particularly nervous, but I felt a bit cold. When I reached the semifinals, I thought that I had to give it all and I did my best kata in that round,” the Argentinian-born athlete said.
FINAL AGAINST ALI SOFUOGLU
The final of Male Kata of #KarateBudapest2023 will see Quintero clashing for the World title against two-time European Champion and long-time rival Ali Sofuoglu of Turkiye.
“I want to enjoy the final on Saturday. I saved my best kata for the final. I knew that on the other side of the tree, I would meet my biggest rivals, but I want to do a good job at the final and enjoy it as much as possible,” Quintero stated.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PAMPLONA
The next edition of the World Championships will be held in Pamplona (Spain) with the competition moving to teams. Quintero, who headed the Kata team of Spain for over a decade and stopped his team career to concentrate on his Olympic dream may be Spain’s secret weapon for the event in Pamplona.
“Obviously, there is a team of Spain already formed and I would have to win my spot there. It would be a good place to put an end to my career, regardless of what happens on Saturday, whether I become the world champion or I am the runner-up. If I can go back into the team, it would not be a bad thing to finish in a World Championships at home, in Pamplona and in front of my audience,” said Quintero.
“I am sure that the tournament in Pamplona is going to be spectacular. It is the first World Team Championship, and traditionally the team competition is always thrilling so next year it is going to be fantastic,” the Kata hero added.
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2023 WORLD SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS