Continental Championships

Olympians Tareg Hamedi and Nurkanat Azhikanov shine on Day 2 of AKF Championships

2023-07-22

Olympians Tareg Hamedi and Nurkanat Azhikanov shine on Day 2 of AKF Championships

The second day of the 2023 AKF Senior Championships had Olympians Tareg Hamedi and Nurkanat Azhikanov taking the spotlight after claiming impressive wins. 

TAREG HAMEDI PREVAILS IN MALE KUMITE +84KG

Olympic Games silver medallist Tareg Hamedi showed a tremendous prevalence of the category of Male Kumite +84kg in the continent after taking his fourth continental crown. Hamedi who won gold in the last two editions of the AKF Championships increased his list of honours with an outstanding performance in Melaka. The Olympic runner-up beat Daiki Ando of Japan in the final 5-2.

 

OLYMPIAN NURKANAT AZHIKANOV WINS BIG IN MALAYSIA

Kazakhstan’s Nurkanat Azhikanov took the first major title in his career after claiming the gold medal in Male Kumite -75kg. Azhikanov who is one of Karate’s Olympians and was the defending bronze medallist defeated former World champion Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh of Iran in the final 3-2.

 

Azhikanov opened the door for a deserving performance of the Kazakh delegation today. The second gold medal for Kazakhstan of the day was claimed by Kaisar Alpysbay in Male Kumite -60kg. A first-time continental medallist, Alpysbay achieved his best result to date following an impressive 9-1 victory over China’s Leilei Shi.

 

FIRST CONTINENTAL TITLE FOR YEE TING TSANG

The gold medal in Female Kumite -50kg went to Hong Kong China as Yee Ting Tsang defeated Olympian Moldir Zhangbyrbay in the final 3-3.

 

In a very tight clash, Yee took her first continental crown after winning three bronze medals. It’s Hong Kong China’s second crown following Mo Sheung Grace Lau’s historic triumph yesterday.

 

MOHAMMAD ALJAFARI WINS SECOND CONTINENTAL CROWN

Jordan’s Mohammad Aljafari extended his domination of the category of Male Kumite -84kg after taking his second consecutive title. The defending champion and former U21 titleholder claimed an impressive 11-1 triumph over Rikito Shimada of Japan in a demonstration of scoring abilities.

 

CEYCO GEORGIA ZEFANYA IMPRESSES IN FEMALE KUMITE -68KG

Indonesia’s Ceyco Georgia Zefanya won the first title for the powerhouse nation of the sport with her triumph in Female Kumite -68kg. Zefanya was the current bronze medallist and won the title in 2019. In Melaka, the Indonesian karateka upset Li Qiaoqiao of China 8-0.

 

TSUI-PING KU DOMINATES FEMALE KUMITE -55KG

After winning silver last year, Tsui-Ping Ku of Chinese Taipei reached the top of the podium this time following a 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan’s Gulmira Ussenova in Female Kumite -55kg. The continental gold in Melaka is Tsui-Ping’s first international title after her silver medal last year and her four bronze medals in Karate 1-Premier League.

 

PARA-KARATE ATHLETES SHOW TREMENDOUS COURAGE IN MELAKA

In the second edition of the Para-Karate continental championships, the best Para-Karate athletes in Asia gathered in Melaka to give an inspiring demonstration of the power of will.

 

Abolfazl Chehrghani of Iran opened the gold medal count in Para-Karate as he became the new champion of Intellectually Impaired Male K21. Chehrghani defeated Saudi Arabia’s Abdullrhman Duhaim in the final.

 

The second medal of the day also travelled to Iran as Farzad Safavi Vardin won the title in Intellectually Impaired Male K22. The Iranian representative upset Faris Khouj of Saudi Arabia.

 

Kazakhstan’s Hazgul Izmagambetova won the title in Female Wheelchair User K30 over Saudi Arabia’s Shahad Alharthi while Saudi Arabia’s Rasheed Alburayah became the champion in Male Wheelchair User K30 after beating Kazakhstan’s Didar Mukhamejanov.

 

Iran added two more gold medals in Para-Karate since Masoumeh Eiji claimed the crown in Intellectually Impaired Female K21 and Mohammad Rahim Gol prevailed in Blind/Visually Impaired Male K10. Kazakhstan’s Lyazzat Zhussupova completed the list of gold medallists in Blind/Visually Impaired Female K10.

 

The Asian Championships come to an end Sunday with the team categories.

 

 2023 AKF SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

(Pictures: @gokhantnr and AKF Official Media)