Rising karatekas found their moment to shine at the second day of Karate action of Karate 1-Premier League in Halle/Leipzig. Underdogs surprised favourites and caused major upsets in the competition after shockingly earning their spots in the finals of the tournament. 

Rising karatekas found their moment to shine on the second day of action at the Karate 1-Premier League in Halle/Leipzig. Underdogs surprised favourites and caused major upsets with their qualification for the finals of the tournament. 

Uzbekistan’s Dastonbek Otabolaev produced one of the biggest shocks of the day following his stunning qualification for the final of Male Kumite -75kg. In his third appearance in Karate 1-Premier League, the 23-year-old karateka made it to the last day of competition for the first time ever after claiming startling victories and narrowly defeating Fatih Sen in semifinals to reach the title-deciding bout. 

His rival in the final will be Italy’s Luigi Busa. The defending European Champion demonstrated top form and eliminated no less than six top rivals to be in the final. The three-time Karate 1-Premier League gold medallist beat fan favourite Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine in a gripping semifinal bout to try to get his third medal in international competition this year after the gold at the European Championships and the silver in Karate 1-Premier League Dubai. 

SLOVAKIA’S MIROSLAVA KOPUNOVA VS JAPAN’S KAYO SOMEYA IN FEMALE KUMITE -68KG

The Female Kumite -68kg category will also see a young newcomer clashing against an experienced karateka in the decisive bout. Slovakia’s Miroslava Kopunova made it to her second Karate 1-Premier League final in a dazzling performance that was wrapped-up with a 5-1 victory over local hopeful Johanna Kneer in semifinals.  

Japan’s Kayo Someya will try to prevent Kopunova’s ascend to glory. The Japanese top karateka aims at earning her second medal in Karate 1-Premier League this year after the bronze in Paris. The defending Asian champion beat fellow teammate Mizuki Kikuchi in semifinals by 5-1 so to extend the impressive tally of medals for the birth nation of the sport in this tournament. 

ANZHELIKA TERLIUGA TO CONFIRM GRAND WINNER STATUS IN FEMALE KUMITE -55KG

One of the few favourites that managed to confirm their leading status today was Ukraine’s Anzhelika Terliuga. The 25-year-old karateka made it to the final after beating local heroine Jana Bitsch in semifinals (3-0) thus completing a deserving season. The European Championships bronze medallist who prevailed at the Karate 1-Premier League in Rotterdam this year managed to take a step towards winning the Grand Winner award with her qualification to the final bout of the tournament. 

On the other side of the tatami, the rising Ukrainian karateka will meet Turkey’s Tuba Yakan. The defending European Champion beat Japan’s Fumika Ishiai by 3-1 to reach the final so to fight for her first gold medal in Karate 1-Premier League in over two years.  

VIETNAM’S NGUYEN THI NGOAN VS CANADA’S HAYA JUMAA IN FEMALE KUMITE -68KG 

Canada’s Haya Jumaa produced a dazzling performance in order to reach the final of Female Kumite -68kg. The 23-year-old karateka claimed convincing victories on her way to the last bout of the tournament and achieved impressive triumphs over Hungary’s Bernadett Juhasz (9-0), Sara Elwart of Poland (5-0), Belarus’ Anastasiya Dzyachkova (1-0), Macedonia’s Veronika Kostovska (7-1), Serbia’s Andrijana Vasovic (0-0) and finally Japan’s Misa Iwato (7-0). It will be the second Karate 1-Premier League final for the upcoming Canadian karateka after her silver in Rotterdam. 

Also showing the power of younger competitors, the opposite belt at the final will be worn by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Ngoan. The 23-year-old karateka who had only participated in one Karate 1-Premier League event until now, surprised and defeated the likes of Joane Orbon of the USA, France’s Leila Hertault and more shockingly, current World champion Alisa Buchinger of Austria to qualify for the title-deciding bout. 

AZERBAIJAN’S AYKHAN MAMAYEV VS RUSSIA’S ALEXANDER ALIEV IN MALE KUMITE -84KG

It will be the second opportunity to win gold for Azerbaijan’s Aykhan Mamayev this year after his victory in Rabat. The current silver medallist showed his top skills to dominate his bouts in the Male Kumite -84kg and edge Hungary’s Valerii Chobotar to be in the final. 

Meanwhile, Russia’s Alexander Aliev produced other of the big upsets of the event, as the 30-year-old competitor made it to his second final in over four years of international career. The silver medallist in 2014 Karate 1-Premier League in Hanau will try to claim his first gold medal ever thus completing a deserving performance in Halle/Leipzig. 

Japan’s Ayumi Uekusa will try to confirm her world champion and top favourite status in Female Kumite +68kg so to pave her way to become this year’s Grand Winner. Meanwhile, in the other category yet to be decided of Male Kumite +84kg, German fans are putting their expectations in local hero Jonathan Horne. Former World champion Gogita Arkania of Georgia will be among his top rivals. 

About Karate World TV Channel 

The Karate World 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 2017 Karate 1-Premier League in HD, including all five tournaments LIVE, On-demand event replays, Video On Demand and Exclusive Content. 

Sign up for the Karate World TV Channel HERE