Venezuela’s Yorgelis Salazar secured the Grand Winner award for the second time and will be crowned the “Best of the Best” in Female Kumite -50kg at the ceremony to be held in Dublin (Ireland) this weekend. 

Following the absence of number 2 in the standings Reem Ahmed Salama of Egypt who will not participate in Dublin, Yorgelis Salazar bagged her second consecutive Grand Winner award.

“Last year, when I won the Grand Winner award for the first time, I mentioned that I was proud to bring Venezuela back to the frontline of Karate and to show that a young generation of athletes showed potential to take Venezuelan Karate to the top of the world. Now, I won the Grand Winner award again and it makes me very proud and happy,” said Salazar.  

A two-time continental champion, Salazar is leading the category after earning medals in all three Karate 1-Premier League events of the season.

“It was a very hard season. The level of all the competitors has increased and now many talented karatekas are competing. This motivates me to get better and better. This year, I worked very hard to be Grand Winner,” Salazar adds.

The Venezuelan fan-favourite started the season with a silver in Cairo, bounced back to win gold in Rabat, and took the bronze medal at the last event in Fukuoka.

“You may be lucky (to win Grand Winner) a first time but a second time sure it is not by chance. I hope I win the Grand Winner award for many more years to come,” she adds.

25-year Salazar continues heading the category of Female Kumite -50kg following two impressive seasons. Last year Salazar won medals in all five international appearances including golds in Karate 1-Premier League events in Matosinhos and Baku, and the crown at the PKF Continental Championships.  

“After Dublin, I will focus on the World Championships and the Pan American Games. Both events are very important to me and I hope to give my best in both of them,” she said.

The Karate 1-Premier League Dublin is scheduled from September 8 to 10. The eliminations will be available LIVE on the WKF YouTube channel. The medal bouts on Sunday can be followed on Fight Sports and many TV networks around the world. FULL LIST OF TV NETWORKS

2032 KARATE 1-PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN