The record-breaking Karate 1-Series A tournament being held this weekend in Istanbul (Turkey) finished with a massive celebration of first-class Karate and with the crowning of Iranian and Japanese karatekas.  The stars of the two powerhouses of international Karate took the spotlight in Istanbul by taking over the gold medals of the second Karate 1-Series A of the season. 

The record-breaking Karate 1-Series A tournament being held this weekend in Istanbul (Turkey) finished with a massive celebration of first-class Karate and with the crowning of Iranian and Japanese karatekas. The stars of the two Karate powerhouses took the spotlight in Istanbul by taking over the gold medals of the second Karate 1-Series A of the season. 

Iran topped the medal table of the tournament with a tally of 12 medals and four golds. Fatemeh Chalaki headed Iranian quest to glory in Iran following her forceful victory in Female Kumite -55kg. Thre 28-year-old karateka edged Kazakhstan’s Sabina Zakharova (3-2) in the final thus claiming her second gold this season after her victory in Karate 1-Premier League in Dubai. 

Hamoon Derafshipour extended Iran’s domination with his triumph in Male Kumite -67kg. It was the first medal in over three years for the 25-year-old karateka who claimed a convincing victory by 8-1 over Greece’s Dionysios Xenos so to win his first gold medal in international competitions in over three years. 

In Male Kumite -75kg Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh wrapped up an impressive tournament, and after beating Grand Winner Stanislav Horuna in semifinals, the Asian U21 champion defeated Japan’s Ken Nishimura in the final (3-0). 

Keyvan Baban completed the list of Iranian gold medallists with his victory in Male Kumite -84kg. In his first final in five international appearances, the Iranian karateka barely edged teammate Mahdi Ghararizadeh Mahani in the final. 

JAPAN PREVAIL IN KATA

The Kata competition in Istanbul was dominated by Japanese karatekas who took all the medals at stake in individual categories thus continuing the trend of the last international events. Ryo Kiyuna in Male Kata and Kiyou Shimizu in Female Kata demonstrated their world champion status and headed the Japanese authority in the category of choreographed movements. Peru in Female Team Kata and Morocco in Male Team Kata completed the gold medallists in Kata competitions. 

The final of Female Kumite -50kg also was an All-Japan confrontation. Miho Miyahara beat teammate Ayaka Tadano by 2-1 extending her impressive tally of three medals and two golds this season. 

TURKISH KARATEKAS DAZZLE AT HOME

Representatives of the host country also had the opportunity to take the spotlight since Turkish karatekas claimed seven medals and two golds. Eda Eltemur took the top of the podium in Female Kumite +68kg after defeating Slovakia’s Dominika Tatarova 2-1 in the final. 

The Turkish flag also waved in Male Kumite -60kg since two competitors from the organising country clashed in the final. The victory went to Aykut Kaya’s hands who beat teammate Eray Samdan by 3-2. 

In the rest of the categories that were not dominated by the three most successful delegations in Istanbul, Peru’s Alexandra Grande continued being on top form and after her gold medal at The World Games, she prevailed in Female Kumite -61kg. The 27-year-old karateka claimed a convincing victory 6-0 over world champion Alisa Buchinger of Austria. 

Also extending the winning streak, Georgia’s Gogita Arkania took his second gold medal in less than a month and following his victory in Karate 1-Premier League Halle/Leipzig the Georgian champion prevailed in Karate 1-Series A Istanbul. The 2014 World champion beat Iran’s Saleh Abazari by 5-0 in the final of Male Kumite +84kg. 

Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Elena Quirici won her first gold medal in over a year and dominated the Female Kumite -68kg category. The 2016 European champion and 2016 Grand Winner defeated Italy’s Silvia Semeraro in the final by 1-0.