World Championships Senior
Karate World Cup 2024: A Spectacular Opening Day in Pamplona
2024-11-22
The 2024 Karate World Cup began with electrifying performances in Pamplona, Spain. Day one shined a spotlight on two thrilling categories: Female Team Kata and Male Team Kumite, setting the stage for a tournament filled with firsts and fierce competition.
Female Team Kata: Japan, Portugal, Spain and Italy to Clash for the Finals
The Female Team Kata category showcased precision and artistry. Japan, current titleholders, delivered a stunning performance against Peru, winning 42.20 to 40.00, and securing their semifinal spot.
Portugal demonstrated resilience, edging Egypt in a nail-biting tie that ended 41.00 to 41.00, advancing through tie-breaking criteria and causing one of the big upsets of the day.
Last year’s runner-up, Italy displayed their strength by defeating Iran 42.80 to 39.60 in a one-sided affair.
Hosts Spain kept their medal dreams alive with a 42.10 to 40.50 victory over the People’s Republic of China. The Spaniards are the current World Championships bronze medallists and hope to use the support from the stands in their favour to reach the finals.
The semifinals promise a battle of styles and traditions, with Japan, Spain, Portugal, and Italy competing for glory. The Semifinals in Female Team Kata are scheduled for Saturday at 17.30.
Male Team Kumite: Iran, Japan, Italy and Egypt Dominate
Power and strategy defined the Male Team Kumite matches. Iran sent a clear message with a commanding 3-0 win over Slovakia, reigniting their quest for the world title they last claimed in 2018.
Japan delivered a flawless performance, dismantling France 7-0 in a clash that underlined their intent to reclaim the championship. Egypt, determined to replicate their runner-up finish from the previous World Championships, secured a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Italy pulled off a major upset, defeating reigning champions Jordan 3-1 to book their place in the semifinals. The Italians hope to recover the title they last won at the 2021 of the World Championships.
Iran, Japan, Egypt, and Italy now stand just two matches away from the coveted title.
Day one has set a high bar for the 2024 Karate World Cup, with compelling storylines emerging in both categories. Fans eagerly await the second day of the competition, where the categories of Male Team Kata and Female Team Kumite will take the stage.
Fans can catch the eliminations, quarterfinals, and semifinals live on the WKF YouTube channel. For the medal matches, global TV coverage and YouTube streaming (on countries without TV rights) will ensure that no karate enthusiast misses the action.
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