I believe that every karateka feels an excitement these day while we are awaiting this year’s World championships. It’s been a while since the last Worlds 2021 in Dubai so there was definitely enough time to prepare and build up.
The manifestation itself is of true global magnitude, and this year has a chance in October to top any other before. Classically held in fall every two years this year it is held in Budapest, Hungary in one of the most cities in the world and it opens up a lot of new questions and start a new dominating era of certain athletes.
A year-long rivalry that ended opens up new doors in the men’s group
Many people think that coming along second is a bad thing. But coming along second to someone who probably is the greatest of all time is just as saying that you’re not so good at basketball just because there was a Michael Jordan in your era who you played against. The same can be said about Damian Quintero. His year-long rival Ryo Kiyuna has retired after the last Asian Championships in Tashkent in 2022. Damian has faced the fearsome Japanese in the world finals the last three times (2016, 2018, 2021) and has come up short including the Olympic games in 2021 in Tokyo. No one has ever even come close to the Japanese in his prime, and Damian managed to even beat him once in the Premier league finals in Dubai in 2018.
Now that Kiyuna has retired it opens up a totally different draw of who’s the favorite to be champion. Will Damian finally get his world gold medal in the individual kata (He has a gold in team kata from Bremen 2014) or will the explosive and sharp Ali Sofuoglu try once more to go back to individual kata to attack the title (he has done team kata the last worlds and europeans)?
Another one being in the favorite stands is the Italian Mattia Busatto. He has been in the medal standings for quite a while, and awaiting his opportunity to catch his world title.
Will the Japanese send Kakeru Nishiyama and how will he do or is Ahmed Zigi Zaresta from Indonesia the dark horse to take the crown will be seen.
This year we will have a very interresting, and very unpredictable championship that we didn’t have in years so I myself am excited to see how it unravels.
A similar thing is happening in the women’s division
As Kiyuna was probably the GOAT of the men’s division so was Sandra Sanchez in the women’s. Coming second to someone like her is like losing by a goal difference against Leo Messi in his prime. Her retirement also opens quite a puzzle in the female brackets and title contention.
Hikaru Ono, the 2016 world champion and last championships silver medalist is coming for another title. But she will not have an easy path since Grace Lau from Hong Kong is just as good and ready for a battle. There are some new kids on the block in contention like Terryana D’Onofrio from Italy and Spain’s new young sensation Paola Garcia who won this years European championships at a stunning 17 years of age (Yes, you read it right,17!). There are also Dilara Bozan from Turkey that has medaled many times and Helvetia Taily from France.
And let’s not forget Kiyou Shimizu. The two times world champion, and silver medalist from Madrid is still in competition and has also won silver at this year’s Asian Championships.
BOTTOM LINE
All in all this years World championships are packing some possible surprises for us, and probably a lot of close calls from the judges since the competition in both male and female divisions is extremely tight.
One of my favorite parts is that it is also held in Budapest, Hungary which could easily compete for one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world.
If You have the chance I would recommend to go since this might open up a new era in sport Karate.
Have fun and enjoy the sport!
Kristijan
BOTTOM LINE
All in all this years World championships are packing some possible surprises for us, and probably a lot of close calls from the judges since the competition in both male and female divisions is extremely tight.
One of my favorite parts is that it is also held in Budapest, Hungary which could easily compete for one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world.
If You have the chance I would recommend to go since this might open up a new era in sport Karate.
Have fun and enjoy the sport!
Kristijan
References for pictures:
1. https://twitter.com/DamianHQuintero/status/887372652947673089
2. https://www.fotomac.com.tr/2020-tokyo-olimpiyatlari/2021/08/06/2020-tokyo-olimpiyat-oyunlari-milli-karateci-ali-sofuoglu-bronz-madalya-macina-cikacak
3. https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/mattia-busato/
4. https://shinken-oita.jp/detail03/index-en.html
5. https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/grand-winner-hikaru-ono-i-want-to-show-my-best-in-fukuoka/2253
6. https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/18/178291/HK%E2%80%99s-Grace-Lau-falls-into-bronze-medal-match-in-women%27s-solo-%22kata%22-competition
7. https://www.fijlkam.it/basilicata/karate/news-karate/130-il-titolo-italiano-assoluto-di-kata-e-lucano.html
8. https://rcb.almendralejo.es/noticias/10595/paola-garca-lozano-campeona-europa-karate
9. https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/others/2021/08/05/olympics-karate-039queens-of-kata039-kick-off-games-debut-vying-for-gold