Zita Zatykó World cup winner

Small but a determined team represented Hungary at the Kyokushin Rengokai World Cup, on June 28, in Osaka, Japan. The tournament was organized by the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan All Japan Kyokushin Union.

115 men and women fighters from 28 countries participated in the three days event. Hungarians showed up with two women fighters of the Ichiro Dojo, which included Zita Zatykó in heavyweight and Zsuzsanna Flórián in middleweight, both training under the direction of Sensei Imre Kardos.

Zita Zatykó stepped on the tatami as an experienced fighter, and marched into the final overcoming Australian, Chinese and Japanese opponents. She won all of her matches in the first round with hands down. In the final, she had a Japanese opponent but Zita won again and she became the World Cup winner in her category.

Zsuzsanna Flórián also won against Australian and Japanese fighters and got into the semifinal.

In the qualifying match for the final, she had a Dutch opponent who unfortunately proved to be better so the Dutch fighter got into the final.

For the 3rd place, Zsuzsanna fought with a Japanese opponent and was defeated after several extra time; she finished in the 4th place.

The championship was an excellently organized competition. Fights were hard but fair, and referees were determined but correct. The World Cup finished with a fantastic sayonara party.

(szentesinfo.hu – hungarianambiance.com)