China’s Xiaoyan Yin led the way to glory in the second day of Karate action at the 2018 Asian Games. The Grand Winner from China continued showing top form and claimed one of the gold medals at stake today. Tzu-Yun Wen of Chinese Taipei, Ali Abdulaziz and Rifki Arrosyiid - who won the first title for hosts of Indonesia in the Karate competition - were the big winners of the second day in Jakarta. 

China’s Xiaoyan Yin led the way to glory in the second day of Karate action at the 2018 Asian Games. The Grand Winner from China continued showing top form and claimed one of the gold medals at stake today. Tzu-Yun Wen of Chinese Taipei, Ali Abdulaziz and Rifki Arrosyiid - who won the first title for hosts of Indonesia in the Karate competition - were the big winners of the second day in Jakarta. 

After the three titles claimed by Japan in the opening day of competition, on Sunday it was the moment for other Asian powerhouses of the sport to shine. With four medals in four international appearances this year, including the Asian Championships crown, China’s Xiaoyan Yin was one of the competitors on top form competing in Jakarta. The Chinese Grand Winner confirmed her front-runner status and extended her outstanding domination of the Female Kumite -61kg category becoming the Asian Games champion. 

Xiaoyan Yin, current WKF World ranking leader, defeated Rozita Alipourkeshka of Iran in the final by ‘Hantei’ or decision as the bout ended 0-0. The podium in the Female Kumite -61kg category was completed by Wan Yu Choi of Hong-Kong and Barno Mirzaeva of Uzbekistan. 

The other big hero of the day was Rifki Arrosyiid. The karateka from Indonesia presented an exceptional performance in Male Kumite -60kg and gave the host nation the first gold medal in the Karate competition. The local star defeated World champion Amir Mahdizadeh of Iran in a spectacular final bout that ended with a whopping 9-7 for the Indonesian karateka.

While current World title-holder Mahdizadeh produced an effective performance and signed one Ippon, one Waza-ari and two Yuko, the local hero dazzled taking no less than nine Yuko to win the Asian Games crown. Malaysia’s Prem Kumar Selvan and Grand Winner Sadriddin Saymatov of Uzbekistan completed the list of medallist in this category. 

In Female Kumite –55kg, Chinese Taipei’s Tzu-Yun Wen caught the attention of fans with a remarkable quest to gold. The World ranking leader of the category defeated Taravat Khaksar of Iran in the final after taking one Waza-Ari and two Yuko, thus claiming her third title this year after prevailing in the Asian Championships and in the Karate 1-Premier League Rotterdam. Cokorda Istri Agung Sanistyarani of Indonesia and Sok I Wong of Macau won the bronze medals. 

The Male Kumite -67kg category had a surprising outcome as Ali Abdulaziz of Kuwait shocked favourites and won the 2018 Asian Games title. The 25-year-old karateka who is placed in the position 414 of the WKF World ranking took the crown following his 4-0 victory over Didar Amirali of Kazakhstan. It is Abdulaziz’s first gold medal in major international events in over six years of sports career. The rest of the medals in the category went to Jordan’s Abdel Rahman Almasatfa and Indonesia’s Jintar Simanjuntak. 

The Karate competition at the 2018 Asian Games ends on Monday with the rest of categories at stake. The quest to gold in Male Kumite -75kg and Male Kumite -84kg, and in Female Kumite -50kg and Female Kumite -68kg will wrap-up the spectacular Karate action at the memorable Asian Games. 

(Pictures: © Servolle Xavier / AKF)