The male competition in the Rotterdam Premier League (March 16th-18th) was likely to bring a few shocks and surprises. It has also confirmed the talent and the coming up of the young generation, especially represented by Eray Samdan of Turkey (-60 kg) and Ken Nishimura of Japan (-75 kg). Summary category per category.
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photos : K-photos
-60 kg
A star is rising… Eray Samadan, only 20 years old, is on fire since the beginning of 2018. Gold medallist in Dubai, he won his second Karate Premier League title in Rotterdam. Cadet European champion (2013), two-time Junior European champion (2014, 2015), U21 World champion (2015), three times U21 European champion (2016, 2017, 2018), bronze medallist at the 2017 Worlds, he won his semi-final against Douglas Brose of Brazil and then, he beat his teammate Aykut Kaya (2-0), winner of Farzaliyev in the other semi-final.
The favourites. The World champion, Amir Mehdizadeh (Iran) lost in the first round against Da Soul of Belgium. Gold medallist in Dubai, Saymatov (Uzbekistan) also lost in the first round against Crescenzo odf Italy.
The podium.
1 Samdan (Tur)
2 Kaya (Tur)
3 Farzaliyev (Aze) and Brose (Bra)
-67kg
Silver medallist in Dubai, Burak Uygur of Turkey didn’t miss his target. After beating Vinicius Figueira of Brazil in the semi-final, he won Stefan Pokorny (Austria), 2-0. The latter had beaten Muratov (Aze) in the other semi-final to join his second final in Rotterdam after the 2014 one.
The favourites. The French World n°1, Steven Da Costa, lost in the 8th of finals against Maresca of Italy (5-0).
The podium.
1 Uygur (Tur)
2 Pokorny (Aut)
3 Maresca (Ita) and Kemaloglu (Tur)
-75kg
Ken Nishimura, 22 years old, has been becoming a new reference of his category. Gold medallist in Paris at the end of January, the Japanese fighter also won a new time against the five times World champion, Rafael Aghayev (3-0 in the 8th of final). In the final, Nishimura beat Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh of Iran (4-2). The latter had previously made a great performance by clearly winning Stanislav Horuna of Ukraine in the ½ final (5-0).
The favourites. Rafael Aghayev finally won a bronze medal after the assault course of the repechages. Luigi Busa (Italy) lost in 8th of finals against Garibovic (Cro), as did Germany's Bitsch in ¼ finals. Stanislav Horuna lost in the ½ finals and then in repechages against Logan Da Costa of France (4-4, decision). Eltemur of Turkey lost in the ¼ finals against Nishimura and then in repechage against Aghayev. The Hungarian fighter Harspataki lost in the second round against Horuna.
The podium.
1 Nishimura (Jap)
2 Asgari Ghoncheh (Ira)
3 Da Costa L. (Fra) and Aghayev (Aze)
-84 kg
After two bronze medals in Paris and Guadalajara, the European Champion, Ugur Aktas of Turkey, took the gold medal after beating World N°1, Ryutaro Araga of Japan, in the ½ final (1-0), and then Salem Mohamed Elkotby of Egypt, registered under the banner of Sarcelles, in France, in the final (2-1). Bronze medallist in the 2014 Worlds, the latter accomplished a great result by qualifying for the final. He previously had beaten Poorshab of Iran (1-1, decision), Tzanos of Greece (4-0), and Azerbaijani’s Aykhan Mamayev in 1/2 final (3-1). Tzanos had formerly won Kenji Grillon of France (2-0).
The podium.
1 Aktas (Tur)
2 Mohamed Elkotby (AS Sarcelles, Fra)
3 Mamayev (Aze) and Araga (Jap)
+84 kg
The multiple European champion, Jonathan Horne of Germany, likes Rotterdam. Winner last year, he reissued his performance by dominating Mehdi Filali of France, silver medallist in Paris, in the semi-finals (1-0) and, then, Moreno Sheppard of the Netherlands, in the final (3-1). The Dutchman, who had beaten Kaptan (Tur) in the semi-finals (3-2), was playing his first final for more than two years.
The favourites. Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran, World N°1 and winner in Paris, lost his first fight against Antokhii (Rus). Bitevic of Serbia felt in the 2nd round against Saric (Bos). Tareg Hamedi (KSA) lost in the ¼ finals against Sheppard. Atamov (Aze) lost in the 2nd round against Reis (Por). The two-time World champion (2012, 2014), Enes Erkan, was finally not registered, like Arkania (Geo).
The podium.
1 Horne (Ger)
2 Sheppard (ND)
3 Filali (Fra) and Kaptan (Tur)
Kata
Antonio Diaz of Venezuelian didn’t succeed in stopping the Japanese domination. Although in good shape, the two-time World champion (2010, 2012) had beaten Damian Quintero (Spain) in the semi-final (3-2). But, in the final, he lost against Issei Shimbaba (Japan), 4-1. The Japanese athlete, previously winner of Heydarov, Yakan and then Smorguner in the semi-final (4-1), won his fourth medal in 2018, after the bronze in Paris, Guadalajara and Salzburg.
The podium.
1 Shimbaba (Jap)
2 Diaz (Ven)
3 Wang Yi-ta (Tai) and Quintero (Esp)
Team Kata
Non-Olympic category, Kata team may lose its appeal yet undeniable. In Rotterdam, only nine teams were involved. Italy (Gallo, Iodice, Panagia) dominated Iran (Roshani, Sajedi Far, Tadayon). Turkey (Duran, Goktas, Sofuoglu), with its victory over Iran's Tabriz club, and Montenegro (Mijac, Vojvodic, Vukovic), following their success on the Italian team Master Rapid SKF, won the bronze.
The podium.
1 Italy
2 Iran
3 Turkey and Montenegro
