The 2023 Karate 1-Series A Richmond-Vancouver started Friday with athletes from Japan and the United States taking the spotlight.

Representatives of the neighbouring country of the United States had plenty of reasons to celebrate on Day 1 of #Karate1RichmondVancouver. Skylar Lingl of the United States qualified for the final of Female Kumite -68kg after edging local hopeful Julia Maclean (1-1).

Her rival in the final is Ayumi Yatoji of Japan, who made it to her first final in international competitions following a 4-1 triumph over Brazil’s Barbara Hellen Rodrigues.

The final of Female Kumite +68kg will have contenders from the same countries clashing for the title. Skylar Lingl’s sister Cirrus Lingl completed a fantastic day for the Lingl family and reached the title-deciding bout of the category with an impressive 6-0 victory over Germany’s Meryem Yildirm.

Another Japanese athlete making it to the finals today, Yuzuki Sawae used her current Asian champion status to beat Pauline Bonjour of Switzerland in the semi-finals 3-1.

MIRISA OHUCHI AIMS AT THIRD GOLD

Japan’s Mirisa Ohuchi will be hoping to claim her third gold medal at Karate 1-Series A events with a new qualification to the final of Female Kata. The Japanese topped the pool with a score of 42.7 and will clash for gold against team-mate Nakaji Hisami. In her first appearance in international events, the promising Japanese karateka surprised in the last round with a score of 42.6.

FIVE FINALS FOR JAPAN

The Japanese delegation continued seeing how their representatives prevailed in Richmond-Vancouver. Yusei Sakiyama aims at adding the crown of Male Kumite -75kg in Canada to his continental title after beating Ryan Gary of France 4-2.

The other spot in the final is claimed by Oussama Zaid of Algeria who defeated Abilmansur Batyrgali of Kazakhstan 2-0.  

It would not be the only final for Algerian karate as Falleh Midoune made it to the last bout of Male Kumite -84kg. The Algerian representative beat Dennis Novo Hernandez of the United States 2-1.

His rival in the final is Janne Haubold of Germany who upset Alexandre Martins Nunes of France 5-4.

American powerhouse of Mexico also placed representatives in the finals today. Pablo Andres Benavides qualified for the final of Male Kumite +84kg following a 2-0 triumph over Oussama Baha Eddine Zitouni of Algeria.

The other finalist is Athanasios Nikopoulos of Greece. The Greek karateka upset Ghararizadeh Mahani Mahdi of the Refugee Team by “Hantei” or decision (0-0).

The clash of Kuwait vs Italy for the title in Male Team Kata completed the list of finals on Day 1 of #Karate1RichmondVancouver.

2023 KARATE 1 SERIES A RICHMOND-VANCOUVER