The 2017 GRAND WINNER of the Female Kumite +68kg category is AYUMI UEKUSA. With medals in all her international appearances, the Japanese heroine is one of the most successful competitors of today’s Karate and the leading exponent of Japan’s domination of the Karate 1-Premier League this season. 

The 2017 GRAND WINNER of the Female Kumite +68kg category is AYUMI UEKUSA. The Japanese heroine is one of the most dominating competitors of today’s Karate and the leading exponent of Japan’s authority in Karate 1-Premier League competitions this season. 

Japanese karatekas finished the five events of the 2017 Karate 1-Premier League with an impressive count of 37 medals and 16 golds. This tally highlights the successful performance of the representatives of the birth nation of the sport and confirms the influence of the Asian country in the first-class series of Karate competitions. 

Four of these medals ended in Ayumi Uekusa’s hands. With three golds under her belt, the 25-year-old karateka is – together with Uzbekistan’s Sadriddin Saymatov – the most successful competitor of this season’s Karate 1-Premier League. 

“It has been a very special moment for me because I really wanted to be Grand Winner. I am so happy that I finally could get this award,” said Uekusa after being proclaimed the best of the best of the year.  

PAVING THE WAY TO GOLD

Ayumi Uekusa has demonstrated to be one of Karate's most efficient and fierce competitors. Presenting a flawless technique and dazzling speed, the current World champion has dominated the Female Kumite +68kg category so much so that the Japanese heroine has won all the international competitions she has participated in this year with the exception of the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris. 

After taking bronze at the event in the French capital, the top of the podium of the Female Kumite +68kg category in major international competitions only had one owner: Ayumi Uekusa. 

In Rotterdam, the Japanese sensation took gold after getting 11 points in six bouts and receiving only a yuko. Barely a month later in Dubai, the 3rd-Dan Goju Ryu karateka prevailed with 18 points in five bouts. The last event of the Karate 1-Premier League season in Halle/Leipzig also ended with Uekusa’s outstanding demonstration. Claiming 11 points in six bouts and receiving only two yukos, the Japanese fan favourite took again the Japanese flag to the top of the podium. 

“This year I had three goals: the Asian Championships, The World Games and winning the Grand Winner award. I managed to get all three of them, so I could not be happier,” added Uekusa. 

MEDALS IN ALL INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES

Ayumi Uekusa has won medals in all 17 tournaments she participated in five years of international career. With five golds in Karate 1-Premier League events and the current World Championships, Asian Championships and The World Games titles under her belt, Uekusa is arguably one of the most thriving competitors of the sport. 

As Karate is getting ready to make its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, all eyes are on Ayumi Uekusa as one of the main candidates to lead the Japanese representation at home at the Olympic Games