The last Karate 1-Series A event of the season ended in Shanghai (China) with a celebration of the sport and the crowning of new big names of the sport. Karatekas who had won medals in the memorable World Championships in Madrid barely a month ago succeeded again with dazzling performances in Shanghai. Sandra Sanchez of Spain, Eleni Chatziliadou of Greece and Jonathan Horne of Germany headed the host of World title-holders prevailing in the event. 

The last Karate 1-Series A event of the season ended in Shanghai (China) with a celebration of the sport and the crowning of Karate's new big names. Karatekas who had won medals in the memorable World Championships in Madrid barely a month ago succeeded again with dazzling performances in Shanghai. Sandra Sanchez of Spain, Eleni Chatziliadou of Greece and Jonathan Horne of Germany headed the host of World title-holders prevailing at the event. 

Sandra Sanchez of Spain completed her outstanding season with a new gold, the 37th consecutive medal that the current World Champion has won in nearly four years of winning streak. This time, the WKF World ranking leader reached the top of the podium after beating Viviana Bottaro of Italy by 4-1 in the final of Female Kata. 

Spain showcased their prevalence in Kata competition with three out of the four medals at stake in the category of choreographed movements. In addition to Sandra Sanchez’s victory, the powerhouse nation of the sport also prevailed in Female Team Kata and Male Kata. Damian Quintero celebrated his recent silver medal at the World Championships with the title in Shanghai. The Spanish Kata ace beat Indonesia’s Ahmad Zigi Zaresta by unanimous decision 5-0 in the final of Male Kata so to win his third crown of the season. 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDALLISTS ON TOP FORM

After her impressive performance at the World Championships in Madrid, Eleni Chatziliadou of Greece topped her memorable season with another gold. The recently-crowned World champion took the title of the Karate 1-Series A Shanghai following a 3-1 victory over local hopeful Mengmeng Gao in the final of Female Kumite +68kg. 

Jonathan Horne of Germany was another of the karatekas continuing the winning streak and after claiming the world crown in Madrid, the German ace confirmed his sensational form with the gold medal in Shanghai. The current World champion edged Tyron Lardy of The Netherlands 2-1 in the final of Male Kumite +84kg. 

The list of World Championships medallists succeeding in Shanghai was completed with Zabiollah Poorshab of Iran. The Iranian karateka had won gold in Team Kumite competition in Madrid and reached the top of the podium in Male Kumite -84kg in Shanghai. Zabiollah Poorshab defeated Kazakhstan’s Igor Chikhmarev in the final by 2-0. It was the first of the two golds for Iran in the tournament since Miad Yari Ilzouleh prevailed in Male Kumite -60kg. 

CURRENT GRAND WINNERS FINISH SEASON ON HIGH NOTE

Two karatekas who wore the karate-gi with golden embroidery as Grand Winners this year wrapped up the season with gold medals in Shanghai. Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine dominated the Male Kumite -75kg competition after beating Croatia’s Enes Garibovic by 4-0 in the final of Male Kumite -75kg while fellow team-mate Anzhelika Terliuga won gold following a 4-0 victory over Japan’s Fumika Ishiai in the final of Female Kumite -55kg. 

The host country also had reasons to celebrate since local karateka Li Gong took the flag of the organising nation to the top of the podium. Li Gong claimed a 4-0 triumph over Egypt’s Feryal Abdelaziz in Female Kumite -68kg. 

Turkey’s Gulsen Demirturk in Female Kumite -50kg, Canada’s Haya Jumaa in Female Kumite -61kg, Egypt’s Aly Ismail in Male Kumite -67kg, and Kuwait in Male Team Kata completed the list of gold medallists in Shanghai.