Continental Championships

Kiyou Shimizu and Ryo Kiyuna lead Japan success in Asian Karate Championships

2018-07-14

Kiyou Shimizu and Ryo Kiyuna lead Japan success in Asian Karate Championships

Japan Karate showed its power in the 15th Asian Karate Championships as representatives of the birth nation of the sport took the spotlight of competition with a showdown of abilities and a host of medals. With seven titles to count for, Japanese karatekas dominated the continental tournament being held in Amman (Jordan). 

Japan Karate is showing power in the 15th Asian Karate Championships as representatives of the birth nation of the sport took the spotlight of the competition after demonstrating top Karate abilities and winning a plethora of medals. With seven titles to celebrate thus far, Japanese karatekas caught all the attention of fans in the continental tournament being held in Amman (Jordan). 

The prevalence of the delegation of the land of the rising sun was especially remarkable in kata categories. Japan took all the four gold medals at stake, with Kata heroes Kiyou Shimizu and Ryo Kiyuna continuing their supremacy in the individual Kata competition. 

World Champion Kiyou Shimizu won her second continental title after prevailing in Female Kata. The two-time World title-holder defeated surprising karateka Celine Xin Yi Lee of Malaysia by unanimous decision (5-0) in the final and extends her impressive demonstrations of Kata abilities in international competitions. 

Japan’s Ryo Kiyuna followed the pattern and won his third continental title in Male Kata. The two-time World champion beat promising karateka Yen Chung Wang of Chinese Taipei by unanimous decision (5-0) thus adding his third gold medal of the season after dominating the Karate 1-Premier League events in Istanbul and Paris. Japan also won the two titles in Team Kata, with both male and female squads defeating Malaysia in the final. 

In addition to the four golds in Kata competition, Japanese athletes also took the spotlight in Kumite. Miho Miyahara confirmed her front-runner status and reached the top of the podium in Female Kumite -50kg. It is the first senior continental title for Miyahara who upset China’s Ranran Li in the final. Team-mate Kayo Someya also won a gold medal for Japan in Female Kumite -68kg. The two-time continental champion took her third consecutive title following her 3-0 victory over Vietnam’s Ho Thi Thu Hien. 

Grand Winner Ryutaro Araga completed the gold medal count for Japan in the first two days of competition as the current World champion prevailed in Male Kumite -84kg. The 2015 continental title-holder added one more crown to his personal count after beating Jordan’s Mahmoud Sajan in the final by 2-0.

Iran with seven medals and three golds, and Jordan with three medals, two of medal golden, are also presenting remarkable performances in Amman. Hammideh Abbasa in Female Kumite +68kg, Niadeilami Majid Hassan in Male Kumite -55kg and Saleh Abazari in Male Kumite +84kg took the Iranian flag to the top of the podium. Meanwhile, Bashar Alnajjar and Abdel Rahman Almasatfa gave hosts of Jordan reasons to celebrate with their victories in Male Kumite -75kg and Male Kumite -67kg respectively. Grand Winner Xiaoyan Yin of China with her victory in Female Kumite -61kg and WKF World ranking leader Tzu-Yun Wen of Chinese Taipei in Female Kumite -55kg were also the big winners of the individual competition in the thrilling event. 

The Karate action from Amman will conclude on Sunday with the Team Kumite competition. The 2018 AKF Senior Karate Championships not only showcase the best Asian karatekas in action. It also gives the first points in the Olympic standings since the event being held in Amman is the first competition included in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 qualification process. 

(Pictures: © Servolle Xavier / AKF)