The 2022 AKF Karate Championships concluded Tuesday in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). Karate athletes from Jordan and Japan were the big winners on the final day after claiming eight and four gold medals respectively.

Japan continued dominating the Kata categories and added the titles in Senior Kata to their ample list of awards in Tashkent. World Championships runner-up Hikaru Ono confirmed the predictions and took the gold medal in Female Kata after beating Hong Kong’s Mo Sheung Grace Lau in the final (scores of 25.68 to 25.0)

Team-mate Kakeru Nishiyama completed the list of titles for Japan in individual Kata following a convincing triumph in Senior Male Kata. The new continental champion from Japan upset Ahmad Zigi Zaresta Yuda of Indonesia 26.0 to 24.42.

The birth-nation of the sport also prevailed in the Team Kata competition. The Female Team from Japan defeated Iran while the Japanese Male Kata team upset Kuwait in the final.

Extending the outstanding performance by the Japanese athletes today, Ayumi Uekusa won one more gold for the birth nation of the sport after claiming the title in Female Kumite +68kg. The former World Champion upset Olympic Games medallist Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan 3-0.

Meanwhile, in Female Kumite -55kg, the title also went to Japan. Shiori Nakamura took her first continental title following a slim 1-0 victory over Thi My Tham Hoang of Vietnam.

The gold medal record for the Japanese delegation was increased in Female Kumite -68kg. Kayo Someya won her fifth continental gold medal after beating Thi Huong Dinh of Vietnam 9-1.

Japan’s impressive domination was wrapped up in Male Kumite +84kg as Kyo Hirata won his first Asian title. The promising Japanese karateka defeated Nurniyaz Yeldashov of Kazakhstan in a thrilling final 6-6.

Jordan delegation was also tremendously successful on the final day. Omar Shaqrah took the crown in Male Kumite -55kg following a 5-2 victory over Nizamiddin Khalmatov of Kazakhstan.

The second title for Jordan was taken by Olympian Abdel Rahman Almasatfa who became continental champion in Male Kumite -67kg after upsetting Yugo Kozaki of Japan 3-2.

Jordan’s domination in Male Kumite was extended by Mohammad Aljafari in Male Kumite -84kg. The U21 World Championships bronze medallist surprised favourites and claimed the crown as he beat Saudi Arabia’s Faraj Alnashri 5-1.

The last title for Jordan was taken by Hasan Masarweh, who upset Sultan Alzahrani of Saudi Arabia 3-0 in Male Kumite -75kg

The list of gold medallists today is completed by Shiau-Shuang Gu of Chinese Taipei in Female Kumite -50kg following an outstanding 8-7 victory over World champion Mio Miyahara of Japan.

Assel Kanay of Kazakhstan won her first continental title after defeating Kymbat Toitonova of Kyrgyzstan in Female Kumite -61kg 7-0, and Abdullah Shaaban of Kuwait took the crown in Male Kumite -60kg (8-4 triumph over Abdallah Hammad of Jordan).

Kazakhstan in Female Team Kumite and Iran in Male Team Kumite completed the list of honours of the memorable event.

CLICK HERE to go to the micro-site of the 2022 AKF Championships.

(Pictures: AKF Official Media)