Karate: Glory for IR Iran

IR Iran covered themselves in gold glory in the last finals of the karate kumite, or sparring, matches at Doha 2006, securing two gold medals for their efforts. It means three gold overall for IR Iran over the two days of the competition, though Japan remains the most successful karate country with four gold medals.

Seven gold medals were on offer tonight for the best karate kumite kids in the women's -60kg and -65kg, and the men's -65kg, -70kg, -75kg, -80kg and +80kg categories, with finals running until late Wednesday evening.

The action opened fast and furious in the women's -60kg with Yuka Sato of Japan defeating a strong but surpassed Thi Hai Yen Nguyen of Vietnam, who lost the bout 6-2.

"I'm happy to get the gold medal. Before the match, there was pressure for me to win because is karate is a Japanese sport. I have to do my best to win the gold," Sato told reporters.

It opened Japan's gold account for the evening, and while the home of karate scored a number of impressive wins, it did not take home all the top trophies on offer this evening.

In the women's +60kg final, for example, Japan was not even in the final, with the bout fought intensely between Sofiya Kaspulatova of Uzbekistan and Sheikha Maitha Modhammed Rashed of UAE. The Sheikha performed magnificently throughout the day to make it the final, but in the end she was outclassed, losing the fight 5-0.

In the first men's match of the evening, too, Japan were not masters of the universe. Shion Kayahara fought Rouhani Hassan of IR Iran in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament. Rouhani also had the support of his brother Hossein, who took gold yesterday in the men's -60kg final.

In today's match, another Rouhani was ahead 7-4 in the closing seconds of the fight when a superb roundhouse kick from Kayahara caught the Iranian on the side of the head for a clear three-point score to level 7-7 at the last second.

With both fighters level it went to 'golden strike': the match, and the gold medal would go to the first fighter to land a scoring punch or kick. In the end, a reverse punch from Rouhani secured another fighting gold medal for IR Iran, after their three gold medal haul in the wrestling earlier in the evening.

Rouhani told reporter's after the match, "I'm very happy, for this is my first gold medal. I've been preparing for it for four years. I dedicate this medal to my dead mother and all of the Iranian karate athletes."

About his brother Hossein's victory, Rouhani said, "I'm very, very happy about him and you should know that he is the world champion and won the gold medal two months ago in Finland. I'm absolutely happy."

Japan made no appearance in the -70kg final either, with Abdullah Al Otaibi of Kuwait fighting Mohammed Naors Alhame Mmshok of Syria. The high-scoring battle saw a lot of rapid fighting action and ended with an 8-4 win for the Kuwaiti.

In the men's -75kg, IR Iran's Jasem Modami Vishkaei faced Japan's Ko Matsuhisa in a near-replay of the match between Rouhani and Kayahara earlier in the evening. As the seconds counted down for the end of normal time, Matsuhisa scored a point to equalise 2-2. It went to 'golden strike' which Vishkaei achieved with a reverse punch counterattack to a furious flurry of strikes and kicks form Matsuhisa.

In the men's -80kg, Japan's Ryosuke Shimizu faced Ahmad Mohammad of Kuwait, who won easily, 5-1. In the last final of the day, men's +80kg final, Kazakhstan's Khalid Khalidov faced and overcame Jaber Al Hamad of Kuwait. This was the most compelling of tonight's finals, the ultimate 10-2 scoreline to Kazakhstan not reflecting at all the intensity of the action. Kuwait's Al Hamad had many powerful attacks discounted because of improper execution.

It was an exuberant finale to a long day of karate and it was a fitting end to the karate competition at Doha 2006.

15th Asian Games, Doha 2006