Iranians eyeing glory in inaugural Karate World Cup
Iranian kumite and kata teams will be looking to enjoy a successful campaign at the inaugural Karate World Cup – starting November 22 in Pamplona, Spain.
Fans in the country could be treated to some thrilling bouts when the Iranians are in action against kumite teams from Italy, Australia, Croatia, and North Macedonia in Group A of the men’s draw.
Croatia won the men’s kumite team bronze in last year’s World Championships – the flagship international event of the sport – while the Italians grabbed the gold medal of category in the 2022 edition.
“All teams in the group will vie for success in the event. Iran has a glorious history in the sport and will enter the competition as a top contender,” said Iranian head coach Shahram Heravi, whose team is in a training camp in Tabriz, northwest Iran.
“Italy and Croatia are surely in a different level, especially the Italians, who are in top form after winning the European gold [in May]. The coaching staff and I are analyzing the other three teams. We will have the right plan and tactics against each opponent,” added the Iranian coach.
Asked about his side’s toughest opponent in Pamplona, Heravi said: “I don’t really care who we are going to face in the competition as we will have to overcome any team toward the title.”
Egypt, Brazil, Spain, Japan, and Turkey are in Group B, with France, the United States, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, and Greece in Group C.
Jordan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Colombia will square off in Group D.
The top two from each group will progress to the quarterfinals.
Heravi said his men will take part in a warmup tournament in Russia before he and his staff announce the final lineup for the World Cup.
Bahman Asgari, Mahdi A’ashouri, Mahdi Khodabakhshi, Mahmoud Ne’mati, Mahdi Ganjzadeh, Mahdi Shahgol, Alireza Heidari, Saleh Abazari, and Morteza Ne’mati are joined by Erfan Asgaripour and Vahab Shahmir from the Iranian under-23 and juniors’ teams in the training camp.
Each male team will be represented by seven to eight karatekas in the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Iranian four-man squad – comprising Sahand Eslami, Yahya Pishezari, Sadra Shirazi, and Mahdi Shahin – are drawn in Group D of the kata contests alongside Japan, South Africa, Poland, and Montenegro.
In the women’s draw, the Iranian quadruple of Maria Hosseinia, Mahsa Afsaneh, Parisa Rahmani, and Kowsar Salehi is pitted against Spain, Colombia, Switzerland, and Czechia in Group C.