Boy! Oh….I mean „Gal“ was this a competition at this years worlds! I wouldn’t say that there were many surprises regarding the final results, and medalists. I have stated some of the favorites in the previous blog (click here) and literally that’s how the medal table went. But if you look at the duels it couldn’t be more tight than that. It’s been a while since the competition has been so close!
Around sixty competitors were spread out into 8 pools (qualification groups) in the opening rounds to battle it out in the Laszlo Papp arena. The medalists had quite the opposition there but still literally cut through it like a hot knife through butter.
Already in the second rounds amongst the next 32 the matches were very heated. Kokumai Sakura showed she still is someone to look out for taking out this year’s European silver medalist Taily Helvetia from France with 41.5/38.9. Hong Kong’s Grace Lau has been on fire since the beginning and took out the competition by a landslide starting with Xenou-Georgina Archontia 41.1/39.5. Already in the second round she beat Armada Ruiz Andrea with a stunning 43.2/39.6. The semis didn’t look much better for the Vietnamese Nguyen Thin Phuong either with 43.0/39.7 but at the end she fell short against the amazing japanese Ono Hikaru with 43.8/44.8. The versatility of Katas ranging from Tomari Bassai and Suparinpai in the first rounds to Papuren and Chatanyara Kushanku in the semis and finals at that level was amazing to witness. Both finalists demonstrated a variety of katas in all the rounds and at literally all the grades being over 41 and as the competition was progressing over 43 by far.
Grace performerd here Chatanyara Kushanku very swift and intense and alive with such focus and precision that you could feel like she’s in a real fight while Hikaru was waiting patiently on the edge with her back turned focusing on herself. And just when you think it doesn’t get any better she toped it. I’d rather not write about it but just look at the video.
As I said just as you think those girls can’t get any better they prove you otherwise. Amazing!
Italy’s Terryana D’Onofrio made quite an impact by taking out Portugal’s Ana Cruz in the top 16 with a strong Anan Dai, and an even bigger impact by taking out one of the favorites Dilara Bozan with Suparinpai for the bronze medal.
But the biggest spectacle in this division definitely came from Paola Garcia Lozano. I have written that the youngest European champion this year could have a good chance becoming the youngest world medalist ever. At 17 years old going through all the rounds, with various katas at a quality grade over 41 and more and hitting a 43.1/42.2 against the legendary Kokumai Sakura for the bronze medal made history that day. The Spanish have been cooking something up in kata for years now so it will be interesting to see what they have in stake next.
But regardless of the medalists there were a lot of other competitors that we should keep an eye on. Taily Helvetia will definitely seeze here moment in the upcoming championships as could Putri Aprilia Krisda from Indonesia. Cruz Ana from Portugal will have her chance to grab a medal at the next championships. Sterck Laura from Hungary and En-Nesiry Aya showed great spirit and promising quality in the future. And there are quite a bit more that I on purpose didn’t want to mention because those are the surprises I’m saving for later in the upcoming events.
Thank You ladies for Your great performances.