The Karate event at the 2023 Asian Games started Thursday with a thrilling opening day of the competition. Japanese athletes dominated the opening day with two gold medals.

Japan confirmed their prevalence in Kata as the birth nation of the sport after claiming the two crowns in Kata individual categories. Kiyou Shimizu excelled on the tatami in Hangzhou as she performed at an outstanding level to win her third Asian Games title in Female Kata. The two-time World champion and Olympic Games silver medallist defeated Anne Robberth Lovelly of Malaysia in the final with scores of 42.60 to 39.80.

The title in Male Kata also went to Japan, since Kazumasa Moto confirmed the predictions and won the crown in the male category of choreographed movements. The defending continental champion upset Kin Hang Kuok of Macau with scores of 43.00 to 39.80.

Sakura Alforte of the Philippines and Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong in Female Kata, and Heejun Park of Korea and Salman Sayed Almosawi of Kuwait in Male Kata completed the podium in Kata divisions.

The Kumite categories brought the first big celebration for the host country in Karate. China’s Qiaoqiao Li used the home factor in her favour with a convincing 4-0 triumph over Kazakhstan’s Laura Alikul in the final of Female Kumite -68kg. It is the first major title for Qiaoqiao who is the current Asian Championships runner-up, as well as the first crown at the event for the powerhouse nation of China.

Meanwhile, in Male Kumite -75kg, the gold medal was claimed by Nurkanat Azhikanov of Kazakhstan. The Olympian became the champion after defeating Hasan Masarweh of Jordan in the final by an impressive 8-0.

The podiums were completed by Thi Huong Dinh of Vietnam and Hala Alqadi of Palestine in Female Kumite -68kg, and Nazim Nurlanov of Kyrgyzstan and Ignatius Joshua Kandou of Indonesia in Male Kumite -75kg.  

The Karate competition continues Friday with the categories of Male Kumite -60kg, Female Team Kata, Male Kumite +84kg, and Female Kumite -61kg.

2023 ASIAN GAMES