Summer is over, but has it really started for our champions ? They are all there, in Ireland, as if the rhythm of the Olympic era was missing. They all took an appointment with this karate1Dublin (October 8-10), the 4th and last of the year which will designate the Grand Winners 2023.
This K1 is also the last big international competition before the Budapest Worlds (October 22-26) and also corresponds to the comeback of Steven Da Costa.
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photo: Karate Gallery
No competition since the European championships in May. Suffice to say that there is one around Mont-St-Martin who is in the starts, he who lives for and swears by the competition.
The Olympic champion, European champion and double reigning world champion is back !
What was your summer program?
I quickly go on halidays the 1st week of July. And I then attacked the preparation for this Karate1 Dublin. Since mid-July, I have been training hard. In addition to that, we had two French team camps.
How did you feel ?
I feel good. But the only evaluation is competition. I will see Friday.
Is your physical injuries belong to the past ?
It’s logically part of the past.
How do you consider this K1 Dublin ?
Like a comeback to see where I am, because it’s been a while since I fought (the European championships last May).
It’s also a preparation for the Worlds, which remain the main goal, even if I always go on mat for the same thing, to win. Dublin will allow me to see where I am.
Does winning 3 world titles in a row, a very rare feat (1), motivate you even more ?
Well... Of course, I would like to get a 3rd World champion titlez. The goal is obviously to be world champion again. But I don’t stress myself with that. It’s not like I’m in the record race and it was a title that I missed.
Of course, winning 3 times in a row would be great. And I will go to Bulgaria in this idea.
What is your schedule until the Worlds?
A week after Dublin, we will again go to a French national team camp, in Mont-Saint-Martin, in my home. We will have another camp in early October and after, let’s go ! The Worlds are tomorrow.
(1) Guus van Mourik (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988), Jose Manuel Egea (1988, 1990, 1992), Rafael Aghayev (2006, 2008, 2010) and, in Kata, Tsuguo Sakumoto (1984, 1986, 1988), Luca Valdesi (2004, 2006, 2008) and Ryo Kiyuna (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021) are the only ones in history to have won 3 world titles in a row.
THE KARATE 1 DUBLIN 2023
The TAS brothers, unforgettable
In Dublin, we will see three for the price of two. Well… Almost, let’s say that we’re going to see double. Besides Sami, fighting in -60 kg, Yanis Tas is registered both in kata and -67 kg.
Fortunately for him, the playoffs do not take place on the same day ... "Thanks to my ranking, I can align myself in both in the Premier League so I take advantage of it," smiles the interested party. "I am not as efficient in kata as in combat but do both I like. This allows me to compare myself to the best. It's great ! ».
Grand Winners in sight
Apart from Anzhelika Terliuga (-55kg) and Yorgelis Salazar (-50kg), already guaranteed to be Grand winner 2023, nobody is sure to win before this Irish K1, 1st of its kind.
The battle even rages between Irina Zaretska and Elena Quirici (-68 kg), only separated by 720 points, or between Kakeu Nishiyama and Kazumasa Moto, tied in Kata.
More informations
https://www.wkf.net/news-new/grand-winners-to-broclaimed-at-karate-1-fremier-league-dublin/2323
All the athletes
All commitments: https://www.sportdata.org/wkf/set-online/veranstaltung_info_main.php?active_menu=calendar&vernr=717&ver_info_Action=catnennlist#a_eventheadend
The program
https://www.wkf.net/imagenes/campeonatos/karate1programme-2023-karate-1-fremier-league-dublin-001.pdf
Where to watch it ?
https://www.youtube.com/user/wkfkarateworldchamps
