The 2023 AKF Senior Championships started Friday in Melaka (Malaysia). Olympians Mo Sheung Grace Lau, Sofya Berultseva, and Abdel Rahman Almasatfa were the heroes of the inaugural day of the competition.

Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong produced the biggest upset of the day as the Olympic Games bronze medallist took her first continental crown in Female Kata.

The current continental runner-up defeated Olympic Games silver medallist and three-time Asian champion Kiyou Shimizu of Japan with scores of 44.1 to 43.5. Shimizu, who had won two consecutive titles in her last two appearances in the event, was the big favourite but was defeated by an inspired Mo Sheung Grace Lau.

The karateka from Hong Kong wins her first Asian gold after claiming three silver medals and takes her biggest success thus far.

OLYMPIAN SOFYA BERULTSEVA CLAIMS TIGHT VICTORY

Kazakhstan’s Sofya Berultseva won her first continental crown as she upset Vang Thi Ngoc My of Vietnam 1-0 in Female Kumite +68kg.

Olympic Games bronze medallist Berultseva had lost three continental finals and was the current runner-up, but this time she managed to take the gold medal with a “Yuko” or one-point technique in the last second of the final.

CONVINCING VICTORY FOR OLYMPIAN ABDEL RAHMAN ALMASATFA

Continuing the success of Olympians today, Abdel Rahman Almasatfa of Jordan became the champion of Male Kumite -67kg after defeating Didar Amirali of Kazakhstan 6-2.

Almasatfa who won bronze at the Olympic Games and was the defending continental champion, proved too strong for Amirali and secured the title with a late “Ippon” or three-point technique.

KAKERU NISHIYAMA KEEPS CONTINENTAL CROWN

Japan’s Kakeru Nishiyama used his status as the big favourite of the category to win the title in Male Kata. The current Grand Winner defeated Mohammad Husain of Kuwait by a slim 42.3 to 42.2.

It is the second consecutive continental crown for Nishiyama who thus continues Japan’s domination in the division.

TWO GOLDS FOR IRAN

Benhman Dehghanzadeh opened the gold medal count for Iran with the title in Male Kumite -55kg. In his second international appearance, Dehghanzadeh won the crown after defeating Omar Shaqrah of Jordan in a hard-fought final 7-4.

The second gold for the Asian powerhouse nation was taken by Atousa Goldshadnezhad in Female Kumite -61kg. The Iranian karateka beat Sarah Alameri of UAE 3-0.

With this title, Goldshadnezhad win her first major title in two international appearances after finishing in fifth place last year.

The competition continues Saturday with day 2 of action from Melaka.

 2023 AKF SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Pictures: @gokhantnr)