From 17 to 19 May took place the SeriesA of Istanbul (Turkey). If some favorites did not make the trip for this competition preferring to focus on the Shanghai K1 (June 8-9), the Turkish event was still high-leveled with 1809 karatekas registered. Iran impressed the assistance by winning 5 titles out of 14.
By Florian Fournier / Photo : Kphotos
Led by the -75kg World champion, Bahman Asgari, Iran made a great raid on this series A. In this -75kg category, Asgari led the way by winning gold in the final against Luigi Busa. Registered, Rafael Aghayev lost in the round of 16 against Egypt’s Abdelaziz (2-0).
With 3 gold medals, Turkey is hot on the heels of Iran thanks to its star Serap Ozcelik who won in the -50kg. Category where her biggest opponent, France’s Alexandra Recchia ranks 5th.
In Kata, the crossover continues between Sandra Jaime Sanchez and Kiyou Shimizu. The Spanish finishes ahead of the Japanese. In men, in the absence of the two Japanese champions, Kiyuna and Moto, Spain’s Quintero was the big favorite but he failed and ranks 3rd.
-60kg :
- Samdan (Tur)
2. Baitureyev (Kaz)
3. Meskini (Ira) and Saymatov (Uzb)
-67kg :
- Xenos (Gre)
2. Shinohara (Jap)
3. Nhuyen (Blr) and Abdelgawad (Egy)
-75kg :
- Asgari (Ira)
2. Busa (Ita)
3. Harspataki (Hon) and Abdelaziz (Egy)
-84kg :
- Ghararizadeh (Ira)
2. Aktas (Tur)
3. Kvesic (Cro) and Khodabakhsi (Ira)
+84kg :
- Abazari (Ira)
2. Arkania (Geo)
3. Kolikov (Rus) and Yamanoglu (Tur)
Kata:
- Nishiyama (Jap)
2. Goktas (Tur)
3. Quintero (Esp) and Sofuoglu (Tur)
Female :
-50kg :
- Ozcelik (Tur)
2. Gu (Tpe)
3. Akkurt (Tur) and Plank (Aut)
-55kg :
- Khaksar (Ira)
2. Wen (Tpe)
3. Sharykina (Blr) and Nakamura (Jap)
-61kg :
- Coban (Tur)
2. Grande (Per)
3. Serogina (Ukr) and Mirzaeva (Uzb)
-68kg :
- Rakovic (Mne)
2. Zarandska (Aze)
3. Someya (Jap) and Quirici (Swi)
+68kg :
- Abbasali (Ira)
2. Saito (Jap)
3. Berultseva (Kaz) and Jami (Tun)
Kata:
- Sanchez (Spa)
2. Shimizu (Jap)
3. Lau (HK) and Ono (Jap)
