The second day of the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League Dublin put the spotlight on new heroes of the sport going for gold at the final event of the season. The anticipated title-deciding bout in Female Kumite -68kg between stars Irina Zaretska and Elena Quirici, and Kakeru Nishiyama’s quest for the Grand Winners award in Male Kata will be among the highlights of the day.

THE TWO TITANS OF FEMALE KUMITE -68KG GOING FOR GOLD

The final of Female Kumite -68kg will have the two biggest favourites of the category going for gold. In a match to decide the new Grand Winner of the division, Azerbaijan’s Irina Zaretska and Switzerland’s Elena Quirici will clash in one of the most anticipated finals of the tournament.

Defending Grand Winner and Olympic Games medallist Zaretska reached her second final of the season after beating Elina Sielimienieva of Ukraine 3-1.

Current European Champion and winner of the events of Cairo and Fukuoka, Elena Quirici showed top form to make it to the final in a tight semi-final bout against Alizee Agier of France 2-2.

KAKERU NISHIYAMA TAKES STEP FORWARD TO RETAKING GRAND WINNER CROWN

Japan’s Kakeru Nishiyama performed at an outstanding level today and confirmed her status as number one in the standings. The current Grand Winner in Male Kata defeated teammate Aoi Funada (scores 44.00 to 43.00) to qualify for his second final of Karate 1-Premier League of the season.

Aiming for his first gold in the Karate 1-Premier League, Sakichi Abe of Japan produced the big upset of the day after defeating favourite Kazumasa Moto, also from Japan. Abe won the semi-final with scores of 43.50 to 42.50.

GRAND WINNER AYAKA SAITO FIGHTS FOR THE CROWN

Defending Grand Winner Ayaka Saito wrapped up the season with a new qualification to the final of Female Kumite +68kg. The silver medallist in Fukuoka upset teammate Yuzuki Sawae by “Hantei” or decision 0-0.

Her rival in the final is Clio Ferracuti of Italy. The Italian karateka who had lost her previous four appearances in Karate 1-Premier League finals beat former Grand Winner Ayumi Uekusa of Japan 8-1.    

HEAVY HITTERS CLASH FOR THE TITLE OF MALE KUMITE -84KG

Olympian Ivan Kvesic and Italy’s Michele Martina will meet for the crown of Male Kumite -84kg. Kvesic who won silver at the event in Fukuoka claimed a tight triumph over Greece’s Konstantinos Mastrogiannis 5-5. Meanwhile, current European champion Martina edged teammate Matteo Fiori 1-1 to make it to his first final of the season of Karate 1-Premier League.

SARARA SHIMADA AIMS AT SECOND CONSECUTIVE GOLD

After dominating the competition at home in Fukuoka, Sarara Shimada of Japan hopes to win her second consecutive crown of the Karate 1-Premier League. The Japanese karateka who is running for the Grand Winner of the category qualified for the final of Female Kumite -61kg following a 6-4 victory over Konstantina Chrysopoulou of Greece.

Producing one of the biggest upsets of the day, Turkiye’s Fatma Naz Yenen made it to her first-ever final on the other side of the pool. The promising Turkish karateka beat Giulia Angelucci of Italy 5-0.  

RYZVAN TALIBOV VS RODRIGO ROJAS IN MALE KUMITE +84KG

The gold medal in Male Kumite +84kg will go to either Ryzvan Talibov of Ukraine or Rodrigo Rojas of Chile. The Ukrainian karateka beat Anes Bostandzic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 to reach his fourth final in Karate 1-Premier League.

Current continental champion Rojas qualified for his second final of the Karate 1-Premier League, the first since his triumph at the 2016 Karate 1-Premier League Fortaleza following a 7-4 victory over standings leader Babacar Seck Sakho of Spain.  

The medal bouts on Sunday can be followed on Fight Sports and many TV networks around the world. FULL LIST OF TV NETWORKS

2032 KARATE 1-PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN