karate1

Karate heroes to meet in anticipated Karate 1-Premier League Paris

2018-01-24

Karate heroes to meet in anticipated Karate 1-Premier League Paris

One of the biggest Karate events of the year takes place this weekend from January 26 to 28 in Paris. The best of the best of international Karate meet this weekend at Pierre de Coubertin sports hall in an anticipated event to set the tone for a thrilling season. As Karate gets ready to make its debut in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the sport is geared up to show its progress in the flagship event in Paris.

One of the biggest Karate events of the year takes place this weekend in Paris. The best of the best of international Karate meet from January 26 to 28 at Pierre de Coubertin sports hall in an anticipated event to set the tone for a thrilling season. As Karate is getting ready to make its debut in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the sport is geared up to show its progress in the flagship event of the modality.

Nearly 800 competitors from 81 countries are gathering this weekend to clash for gold in the first major event of the year.  Considered one of the most important tournaments of the season and the most-established event of the first-class series of competitions under the denomination Karate 1-Premier League, the “Paris Open” is regarded as the big opportunity for top karatekas to take their place in the elite of the sport. This year expectations are running even higher since 2018 effectively marks the start of the quest to Tokyo 2020.

Excitement has been growing among Karate fans ahead of the event since most of the big heroes of the sport have confirmed their participation in Paris. Superstar Rafael Aghayev of Azerbaijan leads the list of defending world champions competing at Pierre de Coubertin sports hall. All the current world-title-holders have registered to participate in Paris, including Egypt’s Giana Lotfy – who has not lost a bout in over three years – or Kata king and queen Ryo Kiyuna and Kiyou Shimizu.

GRAND WINNERS TO WEAR THE NEW KARATE-GIS FOR THE FIRST TIME

The current Grand Winners are also expected to take the spotlight in Paris. All but two of the best of the best in last year’s edition of the Karate 1-Premier League will compete in the event, including Kata world ranking leaders Damian Quintero and Sandra Sanchez of Spain and Japan’s Ayumi Uekusa and Ryutaro Araga, among others.

The Grand Winners participating in Paris will also make the debut of the new special karate-gis with the gold embroidery on the shoulders. These karate-gis are created to identify the defending title-holders of the competition.

French competitors hope to cause a sensation at home and aim at claiming medals in front of family and friends. World champions and local heroines Alexandra Recchia and Emily Thouy head the numerous representation of athletes from the host country. Nearly 50 French karatekas are set to take the flag of the organising nation to the podium.

Japan dominated last year’s edition of the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris with five golds to a total of 13 medals. The French delegation also presented an outstanding level with nine medals. No less than eight countries took home gold medals in Paris last year.

The tournament will start on Friday, January 26 at 09:00 hours with the Female and Male Team Kata competitions followed by Male Kumite -60kg, -67kg and -75kg, and Female Kumite -50kg and -55kg. The rest of the categories will premier on the second day of action. The third-place bouts and the finals are scheduled for Sunday, January 28, from 10:00 to 16:30 (local time).

The final day of competition will be available to a worldwide viewing audience on KarateWorld.TV and on many TV Networks around the world.

For a full list of TV Networks and countries CLICK HERE and select your country to see where you can watch the Karate 1-Premier League in Paris. 

ABOUT KARATE WORLD TV CHANNNEL

The karateworld.tv Channel gives fans around the world a front row seat to view all the Karate 1- Premier League events. By signing to the Karate World TV Channel, Karate fans will receive all the excitement of the 2018 Karate 1-Premier League in HD, including all seven tournaments LIVE, On-demand event replays, Video On Demand and Exclusive Content. Sign up for the Karate World TV Channel HERE