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Karate idols set to shine at The World Games (Female categories)

2017-07-19

Karate idols set to shine at The World Games (Female categories)

Who will take gold at The World Games?  As the Karate competition at the multi-sport event is less than a week away, we present some of the frontrunners of the competition in Female categories. The women competing in Wroclaw are set to showcase their outstanding abilities in a true demonstration of athleticism, sportsmanship and Karate values. 


Who will take gold at The World Games?  

As the Karate competition at the multi-sport event is less than a week away, we present some of the frontrunners of the competition in the Female categories. The women competing in Wroclaw are set to showcase their outstanding abilities in a true demonstration of athleticism, sportsmanship and Karate values. 

While The World Games are usually open to big surprises, these are some of the names to watch in Female categories at The World Games: 

TOP KATA KARATEKAS VS POWERFUL KIYOU SHIMIZU

The question among fans watching the Female Kata competition at The World Games will be if Japan’s Kiyou Shimizu is able to extend her record-breaking string of victories. The two-time World champion has never lost a bout in international competitions since her dazzling debut at the World Junior, Cadet & U21 Championships in 2011. Nearly six years later, the 23 year-old Karate Star has become the true heir of Japanese kata tradition, and now she sets her eyes on a new gold medal. Plenty of rivals will try to produce the biggest shock of the event. World ranking leader and European champion Sandra Sanchez of Spain, defending The World Games champion Sandy Scordo of France, Pan American title-holder Sakura Kokumai of The USA, and current World Championships silver medallist Sarah Sayed of Egypt are all hoping to upset the top favourite. 

STRONG RIVALRIES IN FEMALE KUMITE -50KG

The Female Kumite -50kg competition has recently been shaken by continued changes in the leadership of the category. The attention of fans will be posed on Karate Stars Serap Ozcelik of Turkey and Alexandra Recchia of France who are as intense rivals on the tatami as they are great friends outside the court. The two flashing karatekas have been meeting in finals of major international competitions over the last years, such as in Cali in 2013 when Ozcelik claimed the crown, or in the title-deciding bout of the 2016 European Championships which ended with victory for the French world champion. In addition to the two top competitors, many other names are ready to reach the top of the podium. Current European Champion Kateryna Kriva of Ukraine, second placed in the world ranking and World Championships bronze medallist Bettina Plank of Austria and Japan’s Miho Mihara will also try to take their chances in Wroclaw. 

WORLD AND CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONS CLASH IN FEMALE KUMITE -55KG

The collection of world champions, continental title-holders and fan favourites in contention determine the Female Kumite -55kg category. The alternation in the domination of the category over the last years produces uncertainty in the predictions of who will take gold in Wroclaw. Defending world champion Emilie Thouy is hoping to confirm her status of new queen of the category thus regaining the winning ways that have seemed to elude her ever since she performed brilliantly at the World Championships. Also in a quest to increase her outstanding tally of awards, 2014 World champion and current European Championships runner-up Sara Cardin of Italy takes the stage in Wroclaw as one of the top competitors and one of the most beloved karatekas by fans. The list of candidates to reach the podium in the category also features Valeria Kumizaki of Brazil who competes as current world ranking leader and Pan American champion, as well as recently-proclaimed Asian champion Tzu-Yun Wen of Chinese Taipei and local hopeful Dorota Banasczcyk of Poland, among others.  

ALL EYES ON RECORD-BREAKING GIANA LOTFY  

The attention of fans witnessing the competition in Female Kumite -61kg will be captured by Egypt’s Giana Lotfy. The two-time world champion is one of the best competitors of all times in the category and has imposed such an outstanding domination that the 24 year-old karateka keeps claiming gold in all her scarce international appearances. Lotfy’s influence in the category is so remarkable that the defending world champion has not lost a bout in major competitions in nearly three years. A string of first-class athletes will try to dethrone the defending Egyptian queen. France’s Lucie Ignace will try to avenge her defeat against Lotfy in the final of the World Championships so to win another gold medal at The World Games, although the current European Championships runner-up prevailed in 2013 in a different category. World ranking leader Ingrida Suchankova of Slovakia and Asian champion Xiaoyan Yin of China will also be among the top contenders. 

ALISA BUCHINGER ON QUEST TO CONTINUE DOMINATION OF FEMALE KUMITE -68KG

Top karatekas in contention at the Female Kumite -68kg have the same shared goal, to put an end to Alisa Buchinger’s impressive string of titles in major international events. The current world ranking leader won gold in both the World and European Championships so the 24 year-old Austrian heroine will try to claim the triple crown in Wroclaw. The top rivals of the Austrian 13-time Karate 1-Premier League gold medallist are set to be Kayo Someya of Japan, who recently won gold at the Asian champion and is also the defending title holder after her victory in Cali in 2013; current World Championships runner-up Katrine Pedersen of Denmark, and the 2016 Grand Winner Elena Quirici of Switzerland, among others. 

AYUMI UEKUSA TAKES SPOTLIGHT AS FEMALE KUMITE +68KG LEADER

With gold medals in World and Asian Championships and with the 2013 The World Games title under her belt, Ayumi Uekusa of Japan has deservedly acquired the status of number one candidate to glory in Wroclaw. The defending title-holder, who defeated Nadege Ait Ibrahim of France in the final of the 2013 edition in Cali aims at extending her remarkable winning streak since the current world ranking leader has won gold in all her five international appearances since she got silver medal at the 2016 Karate 1-Premier League in Hamburg. In the quest to The World Games title, the 24 year-old Japanese karateka will have to overcome the likes of first-class competitors such as European champion Anne Laure Florentin of France, and World Championships bronze medallists Abbasali Hamideh of Iran and Dominika Tatarova of Slovakia, among others. 

CLICK HERE to go to the list of competitors participating at the 2017 The World Games.