29.01.2019
At the Karate 1 Premier League Paris, the World Karate Federation’s (WKF) first competition of the 2019 season, Turkey’s Serap Ozcelik Araboglu was crowned champion, whilst Merve Coban and the Male Kata Team each won bronze to complete the podium.
The Karate 1 Premier League, which is organised by WKF and will include seven stages in 2019, concluded its first event of the year in Paris. The event, which took place between 25-27 January, gathered 776 athletes from 82 countries.
Serap Ozcelik Arapoglu, who is a reigning European Champion and world silver medallist, defeated current world title-holder Miho Miyahara of Japan in another repetition of the final bout of Karate’s biggest event. Ozcelik overpowered Miyahara with a conclusive 6-0 victory in the final to win gold in Kumite 50kg.
Turkey’s Merve Çoban won bronze medal after the disqualification of Iran’s Rozita Alipourkeshka.
Turkey’s Male Kata Team, consisting of Ali Sofuoğlu, Emre Vefa Göktaş and Kutluhan Duran, also placed third after defeating the hosts France with a of: 24.68 - 23.40.
2018 Grand Winner Awards
Turkish athletes were recognised for their impressive performaces last year in the WKF’s Grand Winner Awards 2018. Serap Özçelik Arapoğlu, Eray Şamdan, Burak Uygur, Uğur Aktaş all received awards in their respective categories from WKF President Mr Antonio Espinos during the Karate 1 Paris.