Grand Winner Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine and Karate Star Douglas Brose of Brazil were among the big winners in the second day of action at the Karate 1-Series A in Guadalajara (Spain). With young karatekas taking the spotlight the surprising qualifications to the finals, it was a shocking day at the inaugural event of the Karate 1-Series A season.

Grand Winner Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine and Karate Star Douglas Brose of Brazil were among the big winners of the second day of action at the Karate 1-Series A in Guadalajara (Spain).  It was a shocking day at the inaugural event of the Karate 1-Series A season, as young karatekas took the spotlight with surprising qualifications to the finals.

Stanislav Horuna was one of the few front-runners who managed to reach the finals as surprises took over the tournament being held at Polideportivo Multiusos sports hall. The Grand Winner from Ukraine showcased his outstanding energetic nature in a demonstration of endurance in Male Kumite -75kg. Horuna led the pool with four victories after taking no less than 22 points and allowing only five points. The winner of the 2017 Karate 1-Premier League Paris edged Turkey’s Necati Pinarbasi (2-1) to be in the final. His rival in the title-deciding bout will be Chile’s Matias Rodriguez Fuentes who surprised with his qualification to his first final in major international competition.

Brazil’s Douglas Brose also showed top form and dominated the Male Kumite -60kg category. After claiming silver at the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris, the Brazilian Karate Star continued showcasing a great level of efficiency on the tatami. The two-time world champion won five bouts with a total tally of 6-1 to be in his fourth consecutive final. His rival in the final will be Michael Dasoul of Belgium who reached his second final in major events.

Japan’s Miho Miyahara was another of the few favourites succeeding in Guadalajara. After her victory in Paris less than two weeks ago, the Japanese karateka prevailed in Female Kumite -50kg and claimed a spot in the final following her outstanding demonstration of offensive karate in the semi-final (8-1 over Greece’s Eirini-Christina Kavakpoulou). On the other side of the tatami, the Japanese karateka will meet Turkey’s Busra Tosun. The Turkish athlete made it to her first final in nearly three years, as the last time that the former Cadet European champion reached the final day of competition was in 2015 at home in Karate 1-Premier League in Istanbul.

TWO MORE FINALS FOR LOCAL KARATEKAS

Spanish Karate fans also had plenty of reasons to celebrate since two of the local karatekas achieved surprising qualifications to the finals. Promising Spaniard Samy Ennkhaili Anqoud dazzled with his first medal in senior competitions in only two appearances. The 20-year-old karateka edged Japan’s Masamichi Funahasi and will clash for gold against Muhammet Ali Yilmaz of Turkey who did not reach a final since his victory in 2016 Karate 1-Premier League in Istanbul.

Laura Palacio completed the list of Spanish karatekas making it to the title-deciding bouts with her forceful demonstration in Female Kumite +68kg. The 2014 World Championships bronze medallist reached the last day of competition for the first time after her silver at the 2016 Karate 1 –Premier League in Okinawa, much to the delight of local fans. The 30-year-old karateka claimed a slight victory over Ukraine’s Anastasiya Stepashko to qualify for the final. Promising karateka Valtteri Keikanen of Finland will be on the other side of the tatami on Sunday. 

In the rest of the categories, Turkish karatekas showed power since the representatives of the Eastern European country will be in two more finals. Tuba Yakan will clash for gold against Jennifer Warling of Luxembourg in Female Kumite -55kg, while Merve Coban will meet Karina Diaz of Dominican Republic in Female Kumite -61kg. 

The final bouts of the event will be streamed LIVE on WKF YouTube channel. CLICK HERE to go to the LIVE STREAMING of Karate 1-Series A in Guadalajara.

Also, go to KARATEWORLD.TV for all things Karate. The karateworld.tv Channel gives fans around the world a front row seat to view all the major Karate events. Sign up for the Karate World TV Channel HERE

(Pictures: Servolle Xavier / KPhotos)