Following the qualifying tournament for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) held in Umag (Croatia) on June 29th-30th, we now know the 36 athletes qualified for the first Olympic tournament in the history of Karate that will take place in Buenos Aires on October 17th-18th. Japan will have 6 fighters (out of 6 possible), Iran 4, Turkey, Russia, Great Britain and Morocco, 2. We thus should notice the absence of major nations such as Germany, Azerbaijan, Spain and France.
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photos : K-Photos
36 young people of 16 and 17 years old (born between 1 January1st, 2001 and June 29th 2002) will be the first Karatekas in history to take part in the Olympic Games, in this case the Youth ones held in Buenos Aires from October 6th to 18th (17th-18th for Karate).
12 were already qualified thanks to their presence in the first two places in the world ranking. The 24 others won their place last weekend in Umag (Croatia) during the qualifying tournament where they had to reach the final to see Argentina, knowing that the tournament was divided into two... tournaments, with two winners and four finalists.
In Buenos Aires, 24 nations will have representatives. Japan realizes a new show of strength by qualifying 6 out of 6 possible fighters. Only Iran manages to keep it high with 4 qualified athletes. Otherwise, only Turkey, Russia, Great Britain and Morocco managed to qualify several athletes (2).
On the other hand, some nations fall from high and will be absent from this great historical first for Karate. Germany, Azerbaijan, Spain and France have not managed to make their way to Buenos Aires.
Qualified by ranking position
Male
-61 kg : Masaki Yamaoka (JPN) and Fahik Veseli (MKD)
-68 kg : Rosario Rugiero (ITA) and Abilmansur Batyrgali (KAZ)
+68 kg : Enes Bulut (TUR) and Tomas Kosa (SVK)
Female
-53 kg : Damla Ocak (TUR) and Rinka Tahata (JPN)
-59 kg : Charlotte Hope (GBR) and Kokoro Sakaji (JPN)
+59 kg : Kyriaky Kydonaki (GRE) and Laura Lyck (DEN)
Qualified by the Umag tournament
Male
-61 kg
Mohammed Alassiri (RSA) and Abdallah Hammad (JOR)
Alireza Farajikoihikheli (IRI) and Pedro Pablo de la Roca (GUA)
-68 kg
Robert Shyroian (UKR) and Kotaro Nakamura (JAP)
Yassine Sekouri (MAR) and Quentin Mahaudden (BEL)
+68 kg
Keisei Sakiyama (JAP) and Robert Avakimov (RUS)
Nabil Ech-Chaabi (MAR) and Navid Mohammad (IRI)
Female
-53 kg
Aika Okazaki (THA) and Yasmin Elgewily (EGY)
Fatemeh Khonakdartarsi (IRI) and Dildora Alikulov (UZB)
-59 kg
Anna Chernysheva (RUS) and Mobina Heydariozomcheloe (IRA)
Zsofia Baranyi (HUN) and Ivana Perovic (SRB)
+59 kg
Michelle Fonseca-Romero (PRC) and Annika Saelid (NOR)
Sakura Sawashima (JPN) and Lauren Paige Salisbury (GBR)
