Kyokushinkaikan Karate

4^thIKO Matsushima World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament among men (absolute category) was held on 23^rd, 24^th June 2012 in town Isesaki (Japan). At the same time 4^th IKO Matsushima World Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament among women in different weight categories was also held.

Delegation of Ukrainian Kyokushin Budo Karate Federation consisted of sportsmen: Svitlana Zhegar (1 ku, Mykolayiv), Ilga Leshchuk (1 ku, Lutsk) and Pavlo Bugayov (2 dan, Donetsk). The delegation was headed by head of our Federation, Branch Chief Volynets Dmutro (4 dan, Lutsk),

Svitlana Zhegar won 1^st place in the weight category below 62.5 kg and became first Ukrainian world champion. Another Ukrainian fighter Olga Leshchuk won 3^rdplace in the same weight category. Pavlo Bugayov had two early victories in two fights. In the first time he won a victory over fighter from Iran, in the second fight he defeated a fighter for Japan. In the third fight Pavlo was defeated by titled fighter Alexander Karshigeyev, who became prize-winner of the World Championship.

Results of the championship:

Men:

1. Artur Tilov (Russia).
2. Frzad Heidarinaghdadi (Iran).
3. Aleksander Karshigeev (Russia).
4. Aleksander Ibragimov (Russia).
5. Amin Azimi (Iran).
6. Naser Karami (Iran).
7. Sajad Heidarinaghdari (Iran).
8. Kun Liu (China).

Women – Light Weight (under 55kg)

1. Anna Kukarina (Russia).
2. Mariia Zhukovskaia (Russia).
3. Angelina Byvsheva (Russia).
4. Akari Urata (Japan):.

Woman – Middle Weight(55.1kg~62.5kg)

1. Svitlana Zhegar (Ukraine).
2. Shannyn Johnstone Ward (Australia).
3. Oliga Leshchuk (Ukraine).
4. Laurence Laprise (Canada).

Women – Heavy Weight (62.6kg~)

1. Oliga Ivanova (Russia).
2. Melanee Barclay (Australia).
3. Rebecca Connolly (Australia).
4. Eugenia Malikova (Russia).

We congratulate Svitalana Zhegar and her trainer Denis Ozerov with 1^stplace and Olga Leshchuk and her trainer Dmytro Volynets with 3^rdplace in the tournament!

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