Every finals has a world champion in this second day of the K1 Tokyo. Lotfy, Agier, Zaretska, Uekusa, Kiyuna, Araga and Horne reach the final in their category. In this straight line to the Olympics games, the top fighters seem ready and they make it know.
By Florian Fournier / Photos : Kphotos
-84 kg: Araga is back !
Far from his usual results in the last recent months, the 2016 world champion, Ryutaro Araga, found his superb again and qualified to the final at home in Tokyo. In the semifinal, he won Azerbaijan’s Mamayev (1-0). On Sunday, he will fight in the final Iran’s Poorshab, winner of Kvesic in the semifinal (2-1).
Finale : Araga (Jap) vs Poorshab (Ira)
Bronze : Mamayev (Aze) vs Chikmarev (Kaz) / Kvesic (Cro) vs Isakau (Blr)
+84 kg: Horne in place
World and European champion, Jonathan Horne qualified for the heavyweight final without conceding a single point. Winner of Georgia’s Arkania 1-0 in the semifinals, he will meet Iran’s Abazari in the final. The latter emerged victorious from a 100% Iran semi-final against Sajad Ganjzadeh (1-0).
Finale : Horne (Ger) vs Abazari (Ira)
Bronze : Arkania (Geo) vs Ando (Jap) / Ganjzadeh (Ira) vs Filali (Fra)
Kata: Kiyuna / Shimbaba, an old-fashioned duel
Issei Shimbaba qualified for a final of a K1 for the 1st time since 1 year (Berlin in September 2018), despite the presence of Quintero in his pool (26.6 for him against 26.14 for the Spanish). Shimbaba will challenge the unstoppable Ryo Kiyuna in the final. The 3-times world champion flew over his three preliminary rounds to reach the final.
Finale : Kiyuna (Jap) vs Shimbaba (Jap)
Bronze : Quintero (Spa) vs Kinjo (Jap) / Busato (Ita) vs Moto.K (Jap)
Female
-61 kg: Heurtault vs Lotfy in the final
3rd in Shanghai last June, France’s Leila Heurtault confirms her comoing back after her injuries by reaching the final of this Tokyo K1. On, Sunday, she will fight the 2016 world champion, Giana Lotfy of Egypt, for another duel between the two fighters.Favorite of the category and winner last year, France’s Gwendoline Philippe bowed (1-0) in the third round against Japan’s Mayumi Someya, later defeated (2-1) in the semifinal by Leila Heurtault.
Finale : Heurtault (Fra) vs Lotfy (Egy)
Bronze : Someya (Jap) vs Suchankova (Svk) / Yin (Chn) vs Suzuki (Jap)
-68 kg: Agier for a 2nd win in a row
What a duel ! In the -68kg final, the Nippon Budokan will see the European champion and defending champion, Alizee Agier, fighting against Azerbaijanese world champion Irina Zaretska. In the semifinals, Agier defeated (1-0) China’s Gong Li, while Zarestka won (5-5) against Buchinger.
Finale : Agier (Fra) vs Zaretska (Aze)
Bronze : Gong (Chn) vs Semeraro (Ita) / Buchinger (Aut) vs Kydonaki (Gre)
+ 68kg: Uekusa wants the throne again
Not qualified for a final since her success in the Paris Open, Ayumi Uekusa is back. At home, the Japanese champion reached the final and are going straight to the gold medal. Victorious in the semifinal of his executioner during the final of the world championships, Greece’s Chatziliadou (1-0), Uekusa will face Italia’s Ferracuti in the final.
Finale : Uekusa (Jap) vs Ferracuti (Ita)
Bronze : Chatziliadou (Gre) vs Garcia (Fra) / Keinanen (Fin) vs Wasowicz (Usa)
