K1 Madrid is next week (Nov 29-Dec 1). Although there is still a significant number of events (5 Premier League, 1 Series A and 2 continental championships), trends are beginning to emerge and some can already see the qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. In some categories, suspense is total. The point category by category after the last update of the Olympic "standing" and before the last competition of 2019.
By Ludovic Mauchien
Photo : Kphotos
GOOD TO KNOW
10 athletes per category are qualified: 4 via the Standing (names highlighted in red), 3 via the Olympic Qualification Tournament (May 8-10 in Paris), 1 Japanese (host country), 2 CIO wild cards.
A win in the Premier League or continental championship (coefficient 6) yields about 700 points, a 2nd place around 500, a 3rd around 300. Until April 6, 2019, the points were reduced by 50%.
When categories are grouped (-67 kg, +75 kg, -55 kg, +61 kg), it is not the first 4 who are qualified, but the first 2 of each non-Olympic category (eg the first 2 of -60 kg and first 2 of -67 kg).
Each country can qualify a maximum of one athlete per category.
THE STANDING
(November 2019)
Nations ranking
It’s an anecdotal ranking but still gives a good idea of the forces, the nations ranking sees Turkey having 5 qualified (3 in Kumite, 2 in Kata). Iran (2 men, 2 women) and Italy (2 Kumite, 2 Kata) have 4 qualified. 5 countries have 2 qualified athletes : Egypt, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Spain (2 Kata). 10 countries have one qualified.
-67 kg
For the -60 kg, It’s going to be between Assadilov, 5 wins in 2019, Crescenzo, the World champion, and Samdan, 9 podiums in 2019. The Kazakh leads, but with only 400 points ahead of the Italian fighter. Yet 4th of the standing, the Turk is not qualified. He is 900 points behind Crescenzo.
For the -67 kg, the horizon is cleared for the World champion Steven Da Costa. The French is 1200 points ahead of his direct pursuer, Egypt’s Elsawy who is only ahead of Brazil’s Figueira by 400 points for the 2nd qualifying place. Big disappointment for Turkey’s Uygur, 2017-2018 European champion, who is ranked 9th with a 1700 points deficit on Elsawy. It's going to be difficult for him.
- Assadilov (Kaz), 7042,5 pts
- Crescenzo (Ita), 6645
- S. Da Costa (Fra), 6390
- Samdan (Tur), 5737,5
- Elsawy (Egy), 5197,5
- Figueira (Bra), 4777,5
- Sago (Jap), 3817,5
- Shinohara (Jap), 3645
- Uygur (Tur), 3502,5
- Velozo (Chi), 3142,5
- Brose (Bra), 3090
- Saymatov (Uzb), 3067,5
- Amirali (Kaz) 3067,5
-75 kg
We were expecting the “Big 5”. They are on place. Only surprise we may note : the order. Iran's Asgari is the N°1. The World champion is ahead of Aghayev by 500 points and Busa by 700, that is to say nothing. The Azerbaijani and the Italian are still inseparable since only 200 points separate them. At 800 points behind, the fight promises to be fierce between Ukraine’s Horuna and US Scott, 90 small points of difference between them, for the last qualifying place. Behind, no one seems to be able to come back.
- Asgari (Irn), 6187,5
- Nishimura (Jap), 5722,5
- Aghayev (Aze), 5565
- Busa (Ita), 5385
- Horuna (Ukr), 4492
- Scott (USA), 4402,55
- Otaboloaev (Uzb), 3030
- Harspatacki (Hun), 2572,5
- Eltemur (Tur), 2467,5
+75 kg
For the -84 kg, It smells good for Turkey’s Ugur Aktas, leader of the standing, which has 2000 points ahead of the 3rd -84 kg, Croatia’s Kvesic. The latter is currently qualified because Poorshab, yet 3rd in the ranking, must leave his place to his fellow countryman Ganjzadeh, 2nd. The thrilling duel of this category is precisely that between the 2 Iranians, only separated by 80 points. Horne, the World champion, has 1,800 points ahead of Georgia’s Arkania. The 4 access will be played between these 6, although it seems difficult for the Georgian fighter.
- Aktas (Tur), 7417,5
- Ganjzadeh (Irn), 6652,5
- Poorshab (Irn), 6570
- Horne (Ger), 6127,5
- Kvesic (Cro), 5362,5
- Arkania (Geo), 4305
- Araga (Jap), 4170
- Yamanoglu (Tur), 3937,5
- Chobotar (Ukr), 3810
- Isakau (Blr), 3615
Kata
With 5 Japanese in the top 10, it leaves the margin to qualify... Kiyuna and Quintero are obviously ahead, leaving Turkey’s Sofuoglu, 3rd to more than 2000 points. We can even already say that we know the qualified athletes for Tokyo, Quintero and Sofuoglu, but also Diaz and Busato, who have also widened the gap.
- Kiyuna (Jap), 8250 pts
- Quintero (Esp), 7177,5
- Sofuoglo (Tur), 4567,5
- K. Moto (Jap), 4267,5
- Shimbaba (Jap), 4177,5
- Diaz (Ven), 3630
- Busato (Ita), 3405
- Nishiyama (Jap), 2482,5
- Kinjo (Jap), 2302,5
- Smorguner (Ger), 2220
-55 kg
In -50 as in -55 kg, there is a queen and there is their court. Turkey’s Ozcelik, 9 podiums including 6 wins in 2019, and Ukraine’s Terliuga, 8 podiums including 5 wins in 2019, have annihilated any hint of competition. They are already qualified with their 3300 and 3100 points ahead of the 3rd of their category. On the other hand China’s Wen, currently 3rd and Iran’s Bahmanyar will have to fight hard to maintain their advantage. Plank, Khaksar, Hrubrich, Banasczyk, Bitsch have not said their last word.
- Ozcelik (Tur), 7657,5
- Terliuga (Ukr), 7087,5
- Wen (Chn), 4920
- Miyahara (Jap), 4365
- Bahmanyar (Irn), 4252,5
- Plank (Aut), 3982,5
- Khaksar (Irn), 3982,5
- Hrubrich (Ger), 3622,5
- Banasczyk (Pol), 3577,5
- Bitsch (Ger), 3472,5
-61 kg
This is the category of all unknowns, that of integral suspense ! Apart from the first 2, China’s Yin, 7 podiums including 4 wins in 2019, and Egypt’s Lotfy, 7 podiums including 3 wins in 2019, who have managed to create a good mattress, behind it looks exciting. Between the 3rd and 4th, Prekovic and Coban, and the 9th in the ranking, Heurtault, there are 1300 points difference. Consistent but not insurmountable.
- Yin (Chn), 6960 pts
- Lotfy (Egy), 6315
- Prekovic (Ser), 4387,5
- Coban (Tur), 4342,5
- Alipourkeshka (Irn), 3772,5
- Philippe (Fra), 3600
- Jumaa (Can), 3442,5
- Grande (Per), 3180
- Heurtault (Fra), 2970
- Someya (Jap), 2767,5
+61 kg
In -68 kg, it seems well engaged for the World champion Irina Zaretska, who has 1500 points ahead of the 1st unqualified, France’s Alizée Agier. The latter is 700 points behind Switzerland’s Quirici. But Italia’s Semeraro (200 points behind Agier) and China’s Gong (600 points behind Agier) are not far. For +68 kg, it's much tighter. The World champion Chatziliadou has only 300 points ahead of Abbasali, 500 on Ferracutti and 800 on Hocaoglu. Nothing is decided yet !
- Zaretska (Aze), 5782,5 pts
- Uekusa (Jap), 5220
- Quirici (Swi), 5025
- Agier (Fra), 4290
- Chatziliadou (Gre), 4155
- Semeraro (Ita), 4065
- Abbasali (Irn), 3832,5
- Someya (Jap), 3682,5
- Ferracutti (Ita), 3622,5
- Gong (Chn), 3607,5
- Hocaoglu (Tur), 3382,5
- Keinanen (Fin), 3337,5
- Berultseva (Ukr), 3292,5
- Melnyk (Ukr), 3202,5
- Abdelaziz (Egy), 3000
Kata
We can say that we know the 4 qualified athletes for Tokyo 2020. Untouchable, Sanchez Jaime is far ahead, Bottaro and Lau have largely made the gap. Only Kokumai can still fear a comeback of Eltemur, who has a deficit of 800 points.
- Sanchez Jaime (Esp), 8842,5
- Shimizu (Jap), 7882,5
- Bottaro (Ita), 5760
- Lau (HK), 4500
- Ono (Jap), 4087,5
- Kokumai (USA), 3592,5
- Iwamoto (Jap), 3052,5
- Eltemur (Tur), 2782,5
- Dimitrova (Dom), 2325
- Feracci (Fra), 2062,5
GOOD TO KNOW, ACT 2
Past competitions
(Since July 2, 2018, start of qualifications)
The 2018 World championships
2019 or 2020 Continental championships (according to continent)
Premier League: Berlin 2018, Tokyo 2018, Paris 2019, Dubai 2019, Rabat 2019, Istanbul 2019, Shanghai 2019, Tokyo 2019, Moscow 2019
Series A : Santiago 2018, Shanghai 2018, Salzburg 2019, Montreal 2019, Santiago 2019
Upcoming competitions
(Until April 6 2020, end of qualifications)
5 Premier League : Madrid, Paris, Dubai, Salzburg, Rabat
1 Series A : Santiago 2020
African Championships in Tangier 2020
European Championships in Baku 2020
