adminKoketsu retained his title when he beat Spain’s Jonathan Tineo in the Open weight final.
Koketsu first won the title in 2008.
The two-day event took off on Saturday and ended yesterday. It first appeared as if Muripo and Muhambi would go all the way to the final as they both made it into the top 16 in a draw of 111 karatekas drawn from across the globe.
However, the competition proved a bigger task for the seasoned Zimbabwean karatekas, as they both lost in the quarter-finals.
Muripo — a former world champion in the middleweight category — had hoped to write another piece of history by winning the third Kyokushin Union World Karate tournament title.
In 2008, Zimbabwe failed to take part in the second edition of the event due to lack of funds. Japan proved to be the biggest winner at this year’s tournament with five of their fighters making it into the top eight.
In the women’s Open weight category, it was an all-Japanese affair between Kei Yoshimura and Ikumi Sasaki in the final and the title went to Yoshimura.
The hosts also scooped the lightweight division title through Airi Masuyama.
The weekend’s event attracted fighters from countries such as Australia, Great Britain, Germany, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
South Africa and Zimbabwe were the only two African countries competing.
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