Karate fans got to know all the medallists of the Karate 1-Premier League Berlin after a thrilling second day of competition. Ryutaro Araga, Sajad Ganjzadeh, Irina Zaretska, and Ayumi Uekusa continued the Grand Winners’ impressive performance in the tournament while Japanese karatekas extended their success in Berlin with four more spots in the finals. 

Karate fans got know all the medallists of the Karate 1-Premier League Berlin after a thrilling second day of competition. Ryutaro Araga, Sajad Ganjzadeh, Irina Zaretska, and Ayumi Uekusa continued the Grand Winners’ impressive performance in the tournament while Japanese karatekas extended their success in Berlin with four more spots in the finals. 

Japan showed their prevalence in Kata category after taking both places of the final in the male competition. Ryo Kiyuna qualified to his sixth final this year following his impressive demonstration of Kata excellence in Berlin. The two-time World champion and WKF World Ranking leader won all his bouts by unanimous decision (5-0) and aims at continuing dominating the category. 

The all-Japan final in Male Kata will be completed by Issei Shimbaba. The third-placed karateka in WKF World ranking defeated Grand Winner Damian Quintero in semi-finals by split decision (3-2) and hopes to win his second gold medal this year in Karate 1-Premier League. 

RYUTARO ARAGA BACK TO WINNING WAYS

The demonstration of Japanese karatekas continued in Male Kumite -84kg since Grand Winner Ryutaro Araga returned to winning mode as he made it to the final of the category. The WKF World Ranking leader presented a forceful performance throughout the competition and, after taking the pool with a tally of 7-3 in three bouts, defeated Timothy Pedersen of The Netherlands by 3-0 in semi-finals. It will be the first Karate 1-Premier League final this year for the current Asian champion and defending Grand Winner. 

His rival in the title-deciding bout will be Daniyar Yuldashev of Kazakhstan. The 2017 AKF Championships runner-up surprised favourites and qualified for his first appearance in Karate 1-Premier League final day. 

WORLD CHAMPIONS BOUT IN MALE KUMITE +84KG

Grand Winner Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran followed Ryutaro Araga’s footsteps and also used his status as owner of the “Best of the Best” award to reach the last day of competition. The current World champion in Male Kumite +84kg from Iran edged Andjelo Kvesic from Croatia in semi-finals (4-3) and qualified for his second title-deciding of the season. 

The final of Male Kumite +84kg will be a bout with the World Championships as a background. The current World title-holder from Iran will meet 2014 World champion Gogita Arkania of Georgia. The experienced karateka from Georgia defeated local hero Jonathan Horne of Germany by 3-1 and reached his first Karate 1-Premier League final this year.  

IRINA ZARETSKA AND AYUMI UEKUSA ALSO SHINE IN BERLIN 

In women’s competition, the Grand Winners also had their share of prominence with Irina Zaretska and Ayumi Uekusa. Both karatekas dominated their categories and aim at extending the Grand Winners’ success in the tournament. 

Irina Zaretska will be in the final of Female Kumite -68kg. The Grand Winner from Azerbaijan made it to her third Karate 1-Premier League final in four appearances this year after claiming a convincing 5-0 victory over Switzerland’s Elena Quirici in semi-finals. 

The Grand Winner will clash for gold against Turkey’s Eda Eltemur. The Turkish karateka defeated Italy’s Silvia Semeraro in semi-finals by ‘Hantei’ or decision (0-0). 

Ayumi Uekusa of Japan also dazzled and hopes to extend her domination of the Female Kumite +68kg. The current Grand Winner defeated fellow team-mate Ayaka Saito 2-1 in semi-finals and aims at increasing her medal count this year of two golds in four Karate 1-Premier League appearances. 

On the other side of the tatami awaits Italy’s Clio Ferracuti. The promising Italian karateka qualified for her first-ever final of Karate 1-Premier League following her bronze medal at the last event in Istanbul one month ago. The Italian athlete defeated Spain’s Laura Palacio in semi-finals by ‘Senshu’ or first awarded point (1-1). 

OFFENSIVE KARATE SHOWDOWN IN FEMALE KUMITE -61KG

The category of Female Kumite -61kg was a thrilling showdown of offensive Karate, with the key bouts decided in a festival of points. After taking the silver medal at the PKF Championships this year, Alexandra Grande reached her second final of Karate 1-Premier League after an impressive scoring demonstration in the pool round (19-4 in four bouts) and after defeating Gwendoline Philippe of France by 4-0 in semi-finals. 

Alexandra Grande will clash for gold against France’s Leila Heurtault. Continuing the deserving performance of French representatives in the tournament, the winner of two Karate 1-Premier League medals this year reached the title-deciding bout following a point-filled performance. The French karateka got 10-3 in four bouts during the pool phase and then beat World champion Giana Lotfy of Egypt in semi-finals by 5-3. 

The competition will finish on Sunday with the crowning of the medallists of the sixth Karate 1-Premier League event of the season. The bronze medal bouts are scheduled for Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00 local time while the finals will take place at the Berlin/Horst Koerber Sportcentrum sports hall from 14:30 to 16:30 (local time).

The medal bouts will be broadcast in a number of TV Networks around the world and will be streamed LIVE on Karateworld.tv. Click here for a list of the international TV broadcasters.