From January 12 to January 14, 2024, SUNEL Arena became the epicenter of international karate as it hosted the thrilling 2024 Karate 1-Series A Athens. Athletes from across the globe displayed remarkable skill, determination, and sportsmanship, making this opening event of the season an unforgettable experience for both participants and fans.

Highlights from the Event

Female Kata: Mishima Kiri’s Precision Secures Gold
Japan’s Mishima Kiri dazzled the judges with her precision and flawless technique, earning her first-ever international gold medal in the Female Kata category. She triumphed over compatriot Kao Kitaguchi with a score of 43.00 to 40.40, marking a defining moment in her career.

Female Kumite: Maria Stoli Shines for Greece
Greece’s own Maria Stoli delivered an electrifying performance in the -55kg Female Kumite category, claiming gold with a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg’s Jennifer Warling. Her triumph was a proud moment for the host nation, celebrated by the enthusiastic home crowd.

Other Female Kumite champions included:

• Masoumeh Mohsenian of Iran (-50kg), with a narrow 1-1 victory over Chloe Breuzard of France.
• Maryam Ajaray of Belgium (-61kg), securing a 2-2 win against Lea Avazeri of France.
• Sudenur Aksoy of Turkey (-68kg), defeating Thalya Sombe of France 3-2.
• Fabienne Kaufmann of Switzerland (+68kg), with a dominant 7-1 victory over teammate Pauline Bonjour.

Team Kata Triumphs

• Female Team Kata: Portugal claimed gold, narrowly beating Turkey with a score of 40.30 to 39.30.
• Male Team Kata: In an all-Italian showdown, Italy 4 emerged victorious over Italy 5 with a score of 41.50 to 40.20.

Male Kata: Ryusei Ikeda Dominates
Japan’s Ryusei Ikeda showcased unmatched skill in the Male Kata category, defeating Yasuhiro Machida 42.20 to 40.40, cementing his position as a top competitor.

Male Kumite Highlights

• Mert Halici of Turkey (-60kg) triumphed with a commanding 9-0 victory over Greece’s Georgios Karalis.
• Miguel Nunes Ribeiro of Portugal (-67kg) edged out Artur Stepanov of Latvia 1-0.
• Heorhii Pitsul of Ukraine (-75kg) delivered the most decisive win of the day, defeating Libya’s Mohamed Abudabous 10-0.
• Hasan Arslan of Turkey (-84kg) overcame Belgium’s Walid Deghali 8-2.
• Saleh Abazari of Iran (+84kg) secured gold with a 6-2 victory over Turkey’s Umut Eren Gundog.

A Celebration of Karate

The 2024 Karate 1-Series A Athens at SUNEL Arena was not just a competition but a celebration of karate’s spirit, skill, and global unity. The athletes’ extraordinary performances and the electric atmosphere made the event a standout in the season’s calendar, with Greece’s Maria Stoli among the event’s biggest highlights.

SUNEL Arena once again proved its ability to host world-class international events, providing an exceptional venue for athletes and fans alike.