Olympic karate finishes with cinematic kick

TOKYO, Japan (AP):

The final bout of karate’s Olympic debut seemed to have everything that makes combat sports so fascinating, right down to an incredible ending that should have made fans hungry for more martial art fighting on future Olympic programmes.

Instead, the gold medal match in men’s over-75kg kumite ended with a messy, confusing penalty for a kick that was apparently too spectacular for karate.

Established champion Sajad Ganjzadeh faced up-and-coming star Tareg Hamedi for a gold medal at the iconic Budokan. The karatekas even represented Iran and Saudi Arabia, two nations with an extraordinarily complex history.

Hamedi built a lead in the opening minute before launching the spectacular final strike of the Tokyo tournament, connecting exquisitely on a pure left-footed kick to Ganjzadeh’s head and upper body. Hamedi launched the Iranian champion backwards and left him unconscious on the tatami, his eyes staring vacantly upwards.

Hamedi did a celebratory hop and let loose with a scream after apparently winning the first gold medal in Saudi Arabia’s entire Olympic history.

It was a cinematic end to the biggest international showcase in the competitive history of karate, which fought for 50 years to get on the Olympic stage.

And then the judges conferred, and they disqualified Hamedi for a hansoku — a serious violation of the rules.

Although the officials did not immediately explain their decision publicly, karatekas are not supposed to follow through fully on their strikes in this Olympic version of karate. Highlight-reel strikes that would make mixed martial artists or boxers very rich are considered too dangerous for this sport.

Instead of making history, the 23-year-old Hamedi left the mat in tears. Later, he responded with the maturity and discipline expected from great karatekas.

“If you ask me if I agree or not, I disagree, of course, because I love the gold medal,” Hamedi said through a translator. “But I am satisfied with the level of performance I gave and I accept their decision. I don’t have any objection. I think I played well. That’s all I can say.”

Ganjzadeh learned he was an Olympic champion after he woke up backstage and he returned to accept his gold medal.

“I regret that the final match had to happen like this,” Ganjzadeh said.

Hamedi’s silver medal was still only the second ever won by Saudi Arabia. He shared a warm hug and a joint celebration with Ganjzadeh atop the medal podium in another sterling display of sportsmanship.

Nearly every competitor at the Budokan over the three-day tournament was asked about the future of their sport — and with good reason. Karate is not on the Olympic programme in Paris, but karate officials fervently believed this Tokyo showcase would demonstrate why the sport deserves a permanent place soon.

Much of the tournament did exactly that. There were numerous exciting bouts that showed off the kumite competitors’ striking skills, and the kata competition was captivating with its primal demonstration of karate form — an exercise that fits nicely with everything, from gymnastics floor exercises to equestrian dressage, in the Olympic playbook.

But when the final bout ended with an officiating decision that was guaranteed to baffle or infuriate all but the most hardcore karate aficionados, the sport’s future in front of a wider audience did not seem quite so promising.

If karate does not want Hamedi’s kick in its sport, it would be understandable if many fans do not want to see more karate.