The Karate 1-Premier League Fukuoka marked the return of top-tier international Karate events to the sport’s country of origin. Following the successful inclusion of Karate in the Tokyo Olympic Games, the sport makes a much-anticipated return to Japan. The Karate 1-Premier League Fukuoka was set to take place from June 9 to 11.
Japan emerged as the dominant force in the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League Fukuoka, securing the top spot on the medal table. The final day of the event witnessed remarkable performances from Grand Winners Hikaru Ono and Anzhelika Terliuga, as well as Olympians Elena Quirici and Abdel Rahman Almasatfa, who emerged as heroes.
Japan’s gold medal tally started with Grand Winner Hikaru Ono’s outstanding performance in the Female Kata category. Continuing her domination, she secured victory over Hong Kong’s Olympian Mo Sheung Grace Lau with a score of 45.5 to 43.7. This win marked Hikaru Ono’s first crown of the season, solidifying her status as the favorite to retain the Grand Winner award, after securing bronze in Cairo and Rabat.
In the Male Kata category, Japan once again reigned supreme, as two competitors from the host nation battled for gold. Kazumasa Moto triumphed over teammate Ryonosuke Kikuchi with scores of 44.6 to 43.3, clinching the title on home soil in Fukuoka. This victory added to Moto’s bronze medals in Cairo and Rabat.
Ukraine’s Grand Winner Anzhelika Terliuga delivered an impressive performance in the Female Kumite -55kg division. Dominating the competition with a convincing 10-2 victory, she showcased her skills and claimed her second gold of the Karate 1-Premier League season. Her opponent, Shiori Nakamura of Japan, succumbed to Terliuga’s superior Ippon performance.
Switzerland’s Elena Quirici made significant strides toward winning the Grand Winner award in the Female Kumite -68kg category. As a three-time continental champion, she secured the crown in Fukuoka, adding to her title in Cairo. In a hard-fought battle against Japan’s Tsubasa Kama, Quirici emerged triumphant with a score of 5-2.
The final of the Male Kumite -60kg category showcased an intense display of offensive Karate. Hiromu Hashimoto claimed the gold medal after a commanding victory over Darkhan Timraliyev of Kazakhstan, with a score of 10-4. This marked Hashimoto’s first title in the Karate 1-Premier League, highlighting his potential as a promising Japanese karateka.
Egypt’s Reem Ahmed Salama secured her second title of the season, adding the gold medal in Fukuoka to her victories in Cairo and the continental championships. She displayed her prowess in the Female Kumite -50kg division, delivering a convincing 6-2 victory over Spain’s Nadia Gomez Morales.
The final of the Male Kumite -67kg category was an all-Jordan affair, with Olympian Abdel Rahman Almasatfa emerging victorious over teammate Afeef Ghaith with a score of 6-1. This win marked Almasatfa’s second gold medal of the season, following his title in Rabat.
Jordan celebrated yet another gold medal as Mohammad Aljafari emerged victorious in the Male Kumite -84kg category. The winner of the tournament in Rabat and defending AKF champion showcased his top form and defeated Croatia’s Ivan Kvesic with a score of 4-2.
The host nation continued its celebration with Sarara Shimada‘s victory in the Female Kumite -61kg category. Shimada claimed her first crown in the Karate 1-Premier League in just two appearances, solidifying her status as a rising star in the sport. She upset Germany’s Reem Khamis with a score of 4-3.
Italy’s Lorenzo Pietromarchi secured the crown in the Male Kumite -75kg category. Exhibiting exceptional skill and dominance, Pietromarchi delivered an outstanding performance in the final, overpowering Turkey’s Omer Faruk Yurur with a commanding score of 8-0. This remarkable triumph marked Pietromarchi’s first gold medal in the Karate 1-Premier League.
The host nation’s celebration of victories reached its pinnacle with the final of the Female Kumite +68kg category. The title-deciding bout featured two competitors from Japan. Yuzuki Sawae emerged as the victor, claiming the gold medal with a narrow 1-0 triumph over her teammate Ayaka Saito. This achievement marked Sawae’s first gold medal in the Karate 1-Premier League, adding to her previous victory in the Karate 1-Series A Richmond-Vancouver.
The last category of the day, Male Kumite +84kg, concluded with Ryzvan Talibov of Ukraine standing atop the podium as the gold medalist. Following his previous victory in the 2020 Karate 1-Premier League Salzburg, Talibov secured his first title in three years with an impressive 8-0 triumph over Spain’s Babacar Seck Sakho.
As the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League concludes in Fukuoka, attention now shifts to Dublin, Ireland, where the final event of the season will be held from September 8 to 10. The anticipation for this grand finale continues to build as karate athletes from around the world prepare to showcase their skills and vie for the prestigious titles on offer.
In summary, the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League in Fukuoka witnessed Japan’s dominance, with notable performances from Grand Winners Hikaru Ono and Anzhelika Terliuga, as well as Olympians Elena Quirici and Abdel Rahman Almasatfa. The event showcased exceptional displays of skill, determination, and sportsmanship, setting the stage for an exciting climax in Dublin.
All results here