The upcoming Karate event to be held this weekend in Halle/Leipzig (Germany) ushers in the end of the Karate 1-Premier League season; while the best Karatekas in the world get ready for the last chances to fight for gold, these are the big winners thus far in the first-class series of international Karate competitions. 

The upcoming Karate event to be held this weekend in Halle/Leipzig (Germany) ushers in the end of the Karate 1-Premier League season; while the best Karatekas in the world get ready for the last chances to fight for gold, these are the big winners thus far in the thrilling competition. 

Only five karatekas have reached the top of the podium in more than one event this year, thus showcasing how disputed high-level Karate is. 

The big hero of the 2017 season after four events is SADRIDDIN SAYMATOV of Uzbekistan. At only 20 years-old, the young karateka has claimed a spot in Karate’s stardom after winning three Karate 1-Premier League tournaments this year. The promising Uzbek champion surprised with a shocking 6-0 victory in the final in Paris, so to continue the winning streak in Rotterdam with a triumph 2-0 over European champion Kalvis Kalnins of Latvia.

Barely one month later, the electric young karateka achieved an outstanding 8-5 victory over Aykut Kaya of Turkey in the final of Dubai. After his absence in Rabat, Saymatov returns to action in Halle/Leipzig so aim at wrapping up a historic participation in Karate 1-Premier League. 

IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES OF JAPANESE HEROES  

Japan’s RYUTARO ARAGA has also claimed the spotlight this season with two victories, in Paris and Rotterdam. The current World champion continued demonstrating his top form with a 4-1 triumph over Ilya Gravesov of Russia in the final in the French capital. The 26-year-old karateka extended his domination of the Male Kumite -84kg category in Rotterdam, where the eight-time Karate 1-Premier League gold medallist claimed a tight victory over local star Rene Small. Araga could not achieve the triple crown in Dubai after finishing in seventh place. Absent in Rabat, the Japanese hero hopes to put a golden finishing touch to his quest towards the Grand Winner award with a triumph in Halle/Leipzig. 

Fellow Japanese AYUMI UEKUSA is also one of the big names of the season after earning two golds this year. The current World champion has been one of the leaders of the successful Japanese representation in Karate 1-Premier League this year. The delegation of the birth nation of the sport has claimed no less than 10 golds this season, two of them ending in Uekusa's hands.

The 25-year-old Japanese karateka prevailed in the events in Rotterdam and Dubai. In the Dutch city, the current Asian champion claimed a tight victory over Anastasiya Stepashko of Ukraine in the final, while in the Emirate city Uekusa also finished with a disputed win over Aleksandra Stubleva of Bulgaria. Ayumi Uekusa, who won bronze in the event in Paris, has not lost a bout after her defeat in semifinals in the French city, so the promising karateka aims at continue ruling the Female Kumite +68kg category. 

POWERFUL SAJAD GANJZADEH

Leading the rising Iranian representation at the event, SAJAD GANJZADEH has confirmed his status as one of the most powerful karatekas of today’s Karate with two golds in the Male Kumite +84kg category. The current World champion clinched victories in Paris and Dubai so to increase his impressive tally of titles over the last years. The defending World champion got an impressive 7-1 triumph over Tyron-Darnell Lardy of The Netherlands. After claiming bronze in Rotterdam, the 25-year-old karateka reached the top of the podium in Dubai defeating 3-1 Georgia’s Gogita Arkania. Ganjzadeh will be one of the most notable absences in Halle/Leipzig. 

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s IRINA ZARETSKA also caught the attention of fans with her two impressive victories this season. The 21-year-old karateka also represents the upcoming generation of young competitors who are taking the spotlight in international Karate. After being absent in Paris, the current European Junior, Cadet and U21 champion won gold in Rotterdam following a surprising 2-0 victory over World champion Alisa Buchinger of Austria in the final. Zarestka managed to continue shining in Dubai, as the Azeri heroine got a tight victory over Grand Winner Elena Quirici of Switzerland in the final. After finishing in fifth place in Rabat, Zaretska is not registered to participate in Halle/Leipzig. 

The Karate 1-Premier League in Halle/Leipzig will be the last opportunity for the best karatekas in the world to shine in the first-class series of international Karate competition. The quest for gold will be fierce as top athletes hope to put their names forward to become the new Grand Winners. 

This is the list of winners of the 2017 Karate 1-Premier League.