Steven Da Costa : « This final made me sweat !... »
The Little Prince of French Karate is back on his homeland. Less than three months after winning the World title at just 21, Steven Da Costa (-67 kg) is ready to fire in 2019. Current n°3 in the Olympic ranking, he knows that the road to Tokyo is still a long way. He moves on with the Paris Open - Premier League (January 25-27), which he won last year. Words of a World champion...
By Ludovic Mauchien
Photos : Kphotos
K1 Berlin - Day 2 / A rainbow competition
It’s an olympic tournament. Let’s get the rainbow colors that the IOC loves. Not one country, but Japan (2 fighters), qualified several athletes for the final. But still, many big names will be on stage on Sunday with Araga (-84 kg), Ganjzadeh (+84 kg), Heurtault (-61 kg), Zaretska (-68 kg) and Uekusa (+68 kg).
By L.Mauchien et F.Fournier à Berlin
Photo : Kphotos
Kazumasa Moto: "I have some regrets"
New mascot of the men's kata, Kazumasa Moto failed to reach the final today. Defeated by his compatriot Issei Shimbaba (4-1) in the quarter-finals, the young Japanese tells us about his performance.
By Florian Fournier in Berlin / Photo: Kphotos
Berlin K1 - Day 1 / Aghayev is on his way
Rafael Aghayev (-75 kg) did not miss his Olympic qualification debut in Berlin (September 14-16). He will be in Sunday's final against Japan's Sakayama. This is one of the few favorites, with Ukraine’s Terliuga (-55 kg), to confirm their status. Tomorrow will see the end of the preliminary rounds.
By Florian Fournier in Berlin
Photos : Kphotos
K1 Berlin / Shimbaba and Kiyuna as usual
This second day of competition started with the male kata. Unsurprisingly, the final will be 100% japanese. On Sunday, Issei Shimbaba will face his long time opponent Ryo Kiyuna. The two-time World champion always seems a step above this opponent.
By Florian Fournier in Berlin / Photo : Kphotos
K1 Berlin / A perfect day for Shimizu and Sanchez
This Friday, September 14th was held in Berlin the women's kata event. For this first world competition for the Olympic ranking, nothing has much changed. In the final, the two-times World champion, Kiyou Shimizu of Japan, and the World n°1, Spain’s Sandra Jaime Sanchez. In the male kata team, Spain will face the WKF team with the Al-Mosawy brothers.
By Florian Fournier in Berlin
Photo : KPhotos
