Olympics

Giana Lotfy: I could not be happier

2020-03-21

Giana Lotfy: I could not be happier

Meet Giana Lotfy of Egypt, two-time world champion and one of Karate’s first Olympic athletes.

The Egyptian star won the ticket to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 after finishing in second place of the Olympic standings in the category of Female Kumite -61kg.

Meet Giana Lotfy of Egypt, two-time world champion and one of Karate’s first Olympic athletes.

The Egyptian star won the ticket to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 after finishing in second place of the Olympic standings in the category of Female Kumite -61kg.

Two-time World title-holder and four-time continental champion, Giana Lotfy is the only African athlete among the 40 karatekas who have qualified to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by standings. The 25-year-old star is leading the category of Female Kumite -61kg, together with China’s Xiaoyan Yin, Turkey’s Merve Coban, Serbia’s Jovana Prekovic and Japan’s Mayumi Someya.

(Giana Lotfy performs an 'Ura-Mawashi Geri ' kick at the Karate 1-Premier League Dubai)

“I couldn’t be happier, it is like a dream come true. My whole life I wished that Karate was an Olympic sport, and when in 2016 we were included in the Games Tokyo 2020, I felt so happy, I said ‘This is it, this is my moment, I have to make it’”, said Giana Lotfy.

ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FEMALE ATHLETES OF HER GENERATION

With 26 medals in international competitions and silverware in all the World Championships she has participated in, Giana Lotfy is one of the most successful female competitors of her generation. Initiated in Karate at the age of six, the Egyptian athlete won World crowns in Junior and U21 categories before taking her first World title in senior divisions.

(Giana Lotfy celebrates taking bronze at the 2018 World Championships)

It was in the 2014 World Championships in Bremen (Germany) and Giana Lotfy was only 19 years old when she reached the top of the podium of Karate’s biggest event. She surprised favourites and defeated Malaysia’s Syakilla Salni Jefry in the final thus confirming her status of Karate’s most promising female athlete. Two years later, she made it again and won back-to-back World titles after taking the crown at the 2016 World Championship in Linz (Austria). At the 23rd edition of Karate’s biggest event, Lotfy defeated Lucie Ignace of France in a dominating performance (2-0).

Giana Lotfy’s authority in the category of Female Kumite -61kg is especially evident at the continental level. The 1st-Dan black belt in Shotokan has taken four African titles, the last three of them consecutively. Lotfy was proclaimed UFAK champion again this year at the African Championships which were held in Tangier (Morocco).

(Giana Lotfy is a two-time World champion and four-time continental champion)

In addition to the gold medal at the UFAK Championships, Lotfy has won two bronze medals this year, at the Karate 1-Premier League events in Salzburg (Austria) and Dubai (UAE). Last year, she claimed no less than seven medals including titles at the UFAK Championships, the Karate 1-Premier League Tokyo and the Karate 1-Series A Santiago. These successful performances helped her to reach the second spot in the Olympic standings and to win the Olympic ticket.

“Thanks Allah, I am one of the top four athletes in my category and here I am, qualified to the Olympic Games!” said Lotfy who now has her eyes set on her next goal.

“It is not over yet, this is just the beginning. I very much hope that I will be able to win the gold medal at the Games,” added the Egyptian star.