The Karate competition at the 2018 Asian Games s on Saturday, August 25th, as the best karatekas in the continent are ready to fight for gold in one of the most anticipated events in the AKF calendar. World champions, World ranking leaders and Karate Stars are gathering this weekend in Jakarta-Palembang (Indonesia) to clash for the Asian Games crown. 

The Karate competition at the 2018 Asian Games s on Saturday, August 25th, as the best karatekas in the continent are ready to fight for gold in one of the most anticipated events in the AKF calendar. World champions, World ranking leaders and Karate Stars are gathering this weekend in Jakarta-Palembang (Indonesia) to clash for the Asian Games crown. 

Japanese karatekas hope to extend their traditional domination of the event. The representatives of the birth nation of the sport have claimed a total of 43 medals, including 26 golds in the Karate competition at the Asian Games, and the athletes of the nation of the rising sun prevailed in the last edition of the event in 2014 in Incheon (South Korea). The delegation of Japanese karatekas is headed by World champions Ryo Kiyuna and Kiyou Shimizu, among others. The two Kata aces will try to continue capturing all the top titles in the Kata competition of major international tournaments thus showcasing the prevalence of Japan in the category of choreographed movements. 

World champions and current Grand Winners Ryutaro Araga and Ayumi Uekusa are also spearheading the Japanese representation in Jakarta-Palembang. Both Araga and Uekusa aim to get the victories to continue leading the World ranking in Male Kumite -84kg and Female Kumite +68kg respectively. The list of Japanese WKF World ranking leaders participating at the event is completed with Miho Miyahara, who has claimed four gold medals in five appearances this year, including the continental title in Jordan. 

GRAND WINNERS IN ACTION 

In addition to Ryutaro Araga and Ayumi Uekusa, two other Asian karatekas are acting as current Grand Winners and World ranking leaders. At 21-years-old, Uzbekistan?s Sadriddin Saymatov is one of the main references of the promising young breed of up-and-coming stars of the sport. The Grand Winner in Male Kumite -60kg has taken two gold medals this year, in Karate 1-Premier League Rabat and in Karate 1-Series A Salzburg. Meanwhile, Xiaoyan Yin of China hopes to confirm her status as one of the rising competitors in international karate. The Grand Winner in Female Kumite -61kg has taken no less than four medals in four international appearances this year, including golds at the Karate 1-Premier League events in Paris and Dubai and in the Asian Championships. 

Iranian karatekas also appear as favourites to take the spotlight at the Asian Games. One of the biggest powerhouses of international Karate and one of the most successful delegations in international events this year, Iran compete in Jakarta-Palembang aiming to exceed the 27 medals accumulated in all six appearances of Karate at the Asian Games. The Iranian delegation is headed by Grand Winner Sajad Ganjzadeh who will try to increase his medal this year after taking gold at the Karate 1-Premier League Paris. 

Malaysia, with top karateka Syakilla Salni Jefry Krishnan acting as the nation?s flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, and hosts of Indonesia, with top-ranked Srunita Sari Sukatendel capturing local fans? hopes are also among the main favourites to shine at the thrilling 2018 Asian Games. 

Malaysia, with top karateka Syakilla Salni Jefry Krishnan acting as the nation?s flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, and hosts of Indonesia, with top-ranked Srunita Sari Sukatendel capturing local fans? hopes are also among the main front-runners at the thrilling 2018 Asian Games. 

The Karate action at the event s on Saturday, with the Male and Female Kata categories. The competition will continue on Sunday when the last finals will be decided.