Two times world champion in -60 kg (2012 and 2014), Iran’s Mehdizadeh is back ! Physically and mentally on top, his karate shines all the day and qualified for the final in -67 kg. The big events of the day was the lost of almost all the favourites, especiallly in -75 kg. On Sunday, it will Logan Da Costa and Ainazarov who will fight for Gold. In -55 kg, Anzhelica Terliuga will not win again a K1 this year. But Assadilov (-60 kg) and Ozcelik (-50 kg) didn’t miss their rendez-vous ; THey are in the final.
By Florian Fournier in Madrid
Photo : Kphoto
-60 kg : Kazakhstan once more on top
Winner of 4 of the 6 K1 this year, Darkhan Assadilov is again in the final of the 7th and last competition of the season. In Madrid today, he was just awesome in mobility, technique and speed. Scoring 14 points against 0 in all his rounds, he beat Turkey’s Samdan Eray 2-0 in the semifinal, unable to frame him.
In the final, he will fight his fellow countryman Alpysbay, impressive winner of Crescenzo 6-1 in the 3rd round. He will have his word in this final.
-67 kg : Amir Mehdizadeh is back !
2012 and 2014 World champion in -60 kg, Iran’s Amir Mehdizadeh is back on top. Now in -67kg, he was far ahead everybody on this 1st day of the K1 Madrid. He beat 3-0 (mawashi geri shudan and tsuki) Steven Da Costa in the 3rd round and then won 2-0 against Shinohara in the semifinal. Physically fit, it might be a new beginning for him. In the final, he will fight Turkey’s Ozer, the recent U21 World Champion, winner 8-0 in ¼ final against Egypt’s Elsawy.
-75kg : Logan Da Costa beats Busa
In this category, the sky was black except for a man. Author of an great tournament, France’s Logan Da Costa qualified for the final. Winner of Eltemur and Asiabari 1-0, he won on the same score in the semifinal against Luigi Busa.
Previously, all the favorites lost one after one. Beaten in the 1st round (2-0) by Maric and Pietromarchi, Rafael Aghayev and Bahman Asgari set the tone of a day filled with surprises. Shortly after, Horuna was beaten by Bitsch 3-0 and Nishimura by Asiabari 6-1.
For the final, Logan Da Costa will meet Kazakhstan’s Ainazarov, second of the last K1 in Moscow.
Female
-50kg : Ozcelik / Babaeva, new final
Used to podiums and titles, Turkey’s Serap Ozcelik will try to add a new line to her records on Sunday. Never worried, one of the favorites for the Olympic title will have to get rid of a neophyte in the matter, Uzbekistan’s Babaeva. The latter will play her first K1 final.
-55kg : A final without favorites
No Terliuga, no Wen Tzu-zu, no Cardin, no Kumizaki, no Bitsch. They all lost quite quickly. So Yakan Tuba took advantage of the situation and qualified for the final. In the semifinals, she defeated Wen Tzu-zu (1-1). Her opponent on Sunday in the final will be Yassmin Attia who reached for the first time this level of competition. Anzhelika Terliuga lost in repechages and would not get a medal this time.
Female Kata : Sanchez in final at home
Very impressive as usual, Sandra Sanchez reachs the final one more time. With Papuren (26.68), the Spanish champion will try to win a new K1 and the 2019 Grand Winner title also. At home, she will meet without surprise Kiyou Shimizu. With her Chatanyara Kushanku (26.6) in semi-final, the Japanese reachs a new final again.
