Following the thrilling tournament held in Dubai on April 9-10, the Karate 1-Premier League will continue to bring the best Karate action this weekend with the celebration of fifth event of the season in Salzburg. 

Following the thrilling tournament held in Dubai on April 9-10, the Karate 1-Premier League continues to bring the best Karate action this weekend with the celebration of the fifth event of the season in Salzburg. 

Many of the world’s best Karatekas have confirmed their participation in the 2016 Karate 1-Premier League competition in the Austrian city, as three world champions and five world ranking leaders are among the top Karate athletes set to vie for glory in the event to be held from April 16-17.

Pan American champion Antonio Diaz will try to impress in his second appearance of the season after his debut in the Karate 1- Premier League tournament in Paris in January. The Venezuelan star is expected to clash with Spanish hero Damian Quintero in a spectacular quest for gold in Male Kata competition. While Damian Quintero has clinched two gold medals in Karate 1-Premier League events this season, Antonio Diaz eyes the top of the podium in the first-class international Karate competition for the first time in two years.

The Female Kata contest will also receive much of the attention of Karate fans. Spain’s Sandra Sanchez will try to extend her domination in the category after winning in Sharm El-Sheikh and Dubai, but the European champion will find this time the opposition of Japanese idol Kiyou Shimizu. The Japanese world champion has clinched gold medals in each of her six appearances in international tournaments, including the Karate 1-Premier League event in Paris in January, and so the 22 years-old Karateka will be one of the shining stars of the tournament in Salzburg.

In Female Kumite -55kg, Italy’s Sara Cardin hopes to make it to the top of the podium after her silver medal in Dubai last weekend, while world runners-up Geoffrey Berens from Netherlands in Male Kumite -60kg, Japan’s Ryutaro Araga in Male Kumite -60kg and Malaysia’s Syakilla Salni Jefry Krishnan in Female Kumite -55kg will also act as leading names in Salzburg.

More than 700 Karatekas from 61 countries have registered to participate in the Karate 1-Premier League in Salzburg. The Austrian city will welcome a Karate 1-Premier League tournament for the sixth consecutive year thus representing an event that fills Karate world with anticipation and enthusiasm.

The finals of the Karate 1-Premier League in Salzburg which are scheduled for Sunday, April 17th will be broadcast live in many television networks around the world. For Karate fans without access to the television feed, the WKF will show live video stream of the finals on its YouTube platform, in countries where TV networks will not be broadcasting the event.

Follow all the action of the Karate 1-Premier League in Salzburg in the WKF YouTube channel clicking here.

(Picture: Kiyou Shimizu during the Female Kata competition in the 2016 Karate 1-Premier League in Paris)