And it is Luigi Busa who had the last word ! This has been going on for over 10 years. Rafael Aghayev led the way but, by winning 1-0 in the final against the Azerbaijani, the Italian made history. He is THE Olympic champion. Stanislav Horuna finishes 3rd.
In -61 kg, the two best also met in the final. Serbian world champion, Jovana Prekovic, wins the Gold on the referees’s decision over China’s Xiaoyan Yin (0-0, 3-2 at the flags).
In kata, unsurprisingly and logically, as he dominates his subject, the three-time Japanese world champion, Ryo Kiyuna, became Olympic champion.
By Ludovic Mauchien and Florian Fournier
Photo : Kphotos
-75 KG : BUSA BEATS AGHAYEV IN THE FINAL
Final
Luigi Busa (Ita) b. Rafael Aghayev (Aze), 1-0
½ finals
Rafael Aghayev b. Gabor Harspataki (Hun), 7-0
Luigi Busa b. Stanislav Horuna (Ukr), 3-0
The Olympic podium
1. Rafael Aghayev (Aze)
2. Luigi Busa (Ita)
3. Gabor Harspataki (Hun) / Stanislav Horuna (Ukr)
There are times that we look forward to, with trepidation too. The duel Aghayev, Busa, Horuna belongs to these moments. Everyone deserved to win, for different reasons, but only one has to remain. Obviously, these moments would bring joy and sadness, laughs and tears. We wait for them impatiently for the laughs, with apprehension for the tears. Who is going to burst into joy ? Who will cry in his corner, devastated by defeat ?
We want to know the answer quickly, but not too quick either. The verdict ended up at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Stanislav Horuna fell first to Luigi Busa (3-0) in the ½ final. The Italian locked up and the Ukrainian could not find a solution. In the other ½ final, Rafael Aghayev made short work of Gabor Harspataki, the world No.11 (7-0).
The final could only be epic. Rafael Aghayev and Luigi Busa have been in the firmament of -75 kg for more than 10 years, sharing the titles of world champion (7 between them) and European’s, competing final after final. At 36 and 33, they compete for their last banderillas. The story has to end like this, with an explanation at the top between the 2 maestros.
Although they met in the pool (win 3-1 for Busa in qualifying), the counters were reset. Samurai Aghayev is in good shape. Dodging like in the good old days, he is 20 years old again. Luigi Busa rose to power and imposed his power and presence. Hajime !...
Honestly, we expected better from this final, completely closed. But they know each other by heart so well. A 1st banderilla from Busa, a Gyaku Tsuli at 1:18 from the end and that’s it! If Rafael Aghayev is the record holder in history for the number of world championship titles, Luigi Busa will forever remain the Olympic champion. History has chosen not to choose a better one.
-61 kg :
Final
Jovana Prekovic (Srb) b. Xiaoyan Yin (Chn), 0-0 (3-2 flags)
½ finals
Xiaoyan Yin b. Giana Lotfy (Egy), 2-0 (3-2 flags)
Jovana Prekovic b. Merve Coban (Tur), 2-0
The Olympic podium
1. Jovana Prekovic (Srb)
2. Xiaoyan Yin (Chn)
3. Giana Lotfy (Egy) / Merve Coban (Tur)
After dominating the preliminary rounds in the morning session, world No.1 Chinese Yin and Serbian world champion Jovana Prekovic found themselves in the final. In a locked, showless and bland fight, the world champion became Olympic champion at the referee’s decision after a 0-0 draw. Prekovic wins 3-2 at the flags which will not mark its time by its content.
Earlier, in a tight semi-final, China’s Yin won 3-2 at the decision against Egypt’s Lotfy after a 1-1 draw. In the other ½ final, the level difference was wider as the world champion Prekovic flies over her opponents. Without trembling, she won 2-0 against Turkey’s Coban. Defeated, Coban and Lotfy leave these Olympics with a bronze medal.
KATA M : KIYUNA, OF COURSE !
Final
Ryo Kiyuna (Jpn) b. Damian Quintero (Spa) -28.72 / 27.66
Bronze medals
Ariel Torres Gutierrez (Usa) b. Antonio Diaz (Ven) – 26.72 26.34
Ali Sofuoglu (Tur) b. Heejun Park (Kor) – 27.26 / 26.14
The Olympic podium
1. Ryo Kiyuna (Jpn)
2. Damian Quintero (Spa)
3. Ali Sofuoglu (Tur) / Ariel Torres Gutierrez (USA)
We could not have dreamed of better for this final. As with the women, there was the duel is between Japan and Spain. Ultra-favorite before the competition, the three-time world champion Ryo Kiyuna has assumed his rank. Dominator on the qualifying rounds with scores still above 28 (he is the only one to exceed this score), we did not give much of the skin of Damian Quintero in the final. Always in his momentum, Ryo Kiyuna achieves an extraordinary performance. His Ohan daï, rated at 28.72, crushed the Spaniard and his Suparinpei at 27.66.
Stoic after his win, Emperor Ryo Kiyuna first greeted his opponent warmly, then the Spain coach before making a gesture full of symbol and grace. Alone in the middle of the tatami, inside the Nippon Budokan, temple of martial arts, he sits in a saïsa to make a symbolic salute. A gesture that will go down in the history of karate. Now a three-time world champion, Olympic champion and only losing one in 8 years, Ryo Kiyuna is a living legend in this discipline.
In the final for the bronze, the two-time Venezuelan world champion Antonio Diaz, 41, gave everything. But his Chatanyara Kushanku was not enough to take down the powerful Ariel Torres Gutierrez. Realizing a very physically engaged Anan, the youth got the better of the experience.
Realizing that this was his last kata after 23 years at the top, the legend burst into tears as he stepped off the tatami mat. A great moment of sport and emotion.
In the other small final, it was the Turkish Ali Sofuoglu and his Gojushiho Sho, already victorious at the European championships, who won against the Korean Park and his Suparinpei. Always so powerful and in place in his kata, the Turk did not detail. A bronze medal which crowns a good season for him.
