The season of 2023 Karate 1-Premier League concluded Sunday in Dublin (Ireland) with a fantastic Karate event. Irina Zaretska, Anzhelika Terliuga, Kakeru Nishiyama and the newly proclaimed Grand Winners were among the heroes of the memorable tournament.

HIKARU ONO WINS CLASH FOR GRAND WINNER IN FEMALE KATA

Japan’s Hikaru Ono became the champion of Female Kata thus securing the title of Grand Winner one more year. The current owner of the karategi with the golden embroidery defeated Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong in the final for the Grand Winner in Dublin.

 

Defending Grand Winner and current World Championships runner-up excelled in her presentation of “Papuren” kata and beat continental champion Mo Sheun Grace with scores of 44.4 to 45.3.

 

IRINA ZARETSKA TAKES CLASH OF TITANS WITH LATE IPPON

A late and impressive three-point technique or Ippon is all Irina Zaretska of Azerbaijan needed to take the “Clash of Titans” for gold in Female Kumite -68kg. The final bout in Dublin featured Zaretska and Elena Quirici of Switzerland, two Olympians, current gold and silver European Championships medallists and the two top-ranked athletes in the category.

 

The bout was as gripping as expected. Quirici took the lead with two one-point techniques or “Yuko” but a three-point technique or “Ippon” by Zaretska with ten seconds to go gave the Azerbaijani karateka her 13^th gold medal in Karate 1-Premier League (3-2).

 

YORGELIS SALAZAR CELEBRATES GRAND WINNER AWARD WITH GOLD IN DUBLIN

After securing the Grand Winner award for one more year, Venezuela’s Yorgelis Salazar won the crown of Female Kumite -50kg in Dublin. A two-time continental champion and gold medallist at the event in Rabat, Salazar completed an impressive season with a 6-0 triumph over Croatia’s Ema Sgardelli. 

Salazar paved her way to gold with an early “Ippon” or three-point technique and outpowered promising Sgardelli so to take her fourth crown in Karate 1-Premier League.

 

HIROMU HASHIMOTO WINS GOLD TO SECURE GRAND WINNER AWARD

Japan’s Hiromu Hashimoto claimed the gold medal in Male Kumite -60kg after beating Rayyan Meziane of France 3-2. In a highly technical bout, Hashimoto scored three one-point techniques or “Yuko” to upset first-timer Meziane.

 

With this title, Hashimoto confirms the Grand Winner award of the category. It is the first time that up-and-coming Hashimoto takes the “Best of the Best” recognition.

 

UNSTOPPABLE ANZHELIKA TERLIUGA EXTENDS DOMINATION OF FEMALE KUMITE -55KG

Ukraine’s Anzhelika Terliuga certified her status as one of Karate’s biggest stars as she took her 16^th gold in Karate 1-Premier League. The Olympic Games silver medallist from Ukraine who locked her third consecutive Grand Winner award even before coming to Dublin defeated Shiori Nakamura of Japan in the final 5-0.

 

Grand Winner Terliuga took the lead with two one-point techniques or “Yuko” and then wrapped up the victory with a late three-point technique or Ippon. It is Terliuga’s fourth gold in five events this season following her victories in the Karate 1-Premier League events in Rabat and Fukuoka and the crown at the European Championships.

 

YUGO KOZAKI WINS HIGH-SCORING FINAL

In one of the highlights of the day, Yuko Kozaki of Japan won the crown in Male Kumite -67kg. The final bout featuring Kozaki and current Grand Winner Dionysios Xenos of Greece was a showdown of offensive Karate with the two karatekas engaging in non-stop punches and kicks.

The 2022 continental championships runner-up from Japan wrapped up the thrilling bout with an impressive score of 10-2.

 

SARARA SHIMADA EARNS ONE MORE GOLD FOR JAPAN

Japan’s outstanding day continued in the category of Female Kumite -61kg since Sarara Shimada added one more gold to the Japanese delegation. The winner of Karate 1-Premier League Fukuoka defeated Fatma Naz Yenen of Turkiye 2-1 in a highly technical bout. It is the second international gold medal for Shimada who is fast becoming one of Japan’s rising stars.

 

KAKERU NISHIYAMA DOMINATES MALE KATA

Current Grand Winner Kakeru Nishiyama of Japan won the title of Male Kata in Dublin and maintained the Grand Winner award for one more season. Nishiyama who is the defending continental champion and four-time Karate 1-Premier League titleholder beat teammate Sakichi Abe in the final with scores of 45.2 to 45.6.

 

With this victory and with a new Grand Winner award under his belt, Nishiyama becomes one of the biggest dominators of the division of Male Kata.

 

MICHELE MARTINA WINS TITLE IN MALE KUMITE -84KG

The bout of top European karatekas Michele Martina of Italy and Ivan Kvesic of Croatia in Male Kumite -84kg was taken by Martina who defeated his rival 7-4.

 

Current continental champion Martina upset Olympian Kvesic in a gripping bout. After winning bronze in Rabat, the Italian karateka inaugurates his gold medal count in Karate 1-Premier League.

 

JAPAN COMPLETE OUTSTANDING DAY WITH FINAL GOLD IN FEMALE KUMITE +68KG

The last Female category of the day had another Japanese winner since Ayaka Saito took the title in Female Kumite +68kg. The current Grand Winner defeated Italy’s Clio Ferracuti in a gripping bout. Saito claimed a late “Yuko” or one-point technique to earn her second Karate 1-Premier League title (4-3).

 

RYZVAN TALIBOV WINS GOLD AND CLAIMS GRAND WINNER AWARD

It was a happy day for Ryzvan Talibov of Ukraine. The Ukrainian karateka won the gold medal in Dublin and confirmed her Grand Winner award in Male Kumite +84kg. The final bout of the category saw Talibov beating Chile’s Rodrigo Rojas in a tight bout 5-4.

 

With the title in Dublin, Talibov earns the right to wear the special karategi with the golden embroidery.

 

Hasan Masarweh of Jordan who won the title of Male Kumite -75kg due to the injury of opponent Enzo Berthon of France completed the list of gold medallists today.

 

 2032 KARATE 1-PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN