Caracas, February 15, 2020.- Whether he wins or not on this Sunday morning against the Spaniard Damián Quintero in the Karate Premier League, which is held in Dubai, Venezuelan Antonio Díaz managed to fulfill the dream of securing his participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the quotas granted to the ranking of the World Karate Federation (WKF).
Díaz will be at the highest Olympic event and in the first edition in which this sport officially participates, thanks to the points added in the final of the kata. The native of Caracas is currently in the sixth position of the WKF ranking. With the fight for the gold medal in Dubai he will add a number of points that will leave his closest competitor, the Italian Mattia Busato, with no opportunity to snatch the ticket for the Olympics.
“This qualification for the final is very important for me because it is the first time I have done it in almost two years and because it ensures my ticket for Tokyo 2020. The level of kata has increased so much in recent times that now every competitor has options for success. My goal now is to continue to enjoy each tournament and be ready for Tokyo, stated Diaz.
Although the points ensure the participation of the Venezuelan for Tokyo 2020, the Olympic ranking International Federation of Karate closes on 6 April when it was officially deemed as classified. Diaz is the seventh Venezuelan athlete qualified for the Olympic Games so far.
Source URL: Correo del Orinoco
Translated by JRE/EF
- January 13, 2025