The second day of competition a the Karate 1 - Series A in Salzburg contained several shock results ©WKF

Kiyou Shimizu of Japan and Germany's Noah Bitsch were outstanding victors on the second day of the Karate 1-Series A in Salzburg.

But two 20-year-olds - Egypt’s Feryal Abdelaziz and Andrea Brito of France – and Croatia’s 18-year-old Jelana Pehar - were the surprise packages at the Sporthalle Alpenstrasse. 

Abdelaziz, who had made her debut in senior international competitions in Karate 1-Series A Guadalajara this year, upset the favourites en route to winning the Female Kumite under-68 kilogram category.

The 2017 Under-21 World Championships bronze medallist edged past Italy’s Silvia Semeraro in her final.

Brito also took her first gold in international competitions after prevailing in the female kumite under-61kg.

Having last reached the podium of a major event in Paris two years ago, she created a shock by reaching the final, where she earned a 1-0 win over Japan’s Mayumi Someya.

In her first appearance in a senior international tournament, Pehar produced one of the biggest upsets of the day with her triumph in the female kumite  under-50kg.

This karateka already had two medals in underage European Championships and the world title in cadet category as best results, but here she showcased the power of a new generation, defeating Japan’s Endo Chinasu in the final.

Japan's Kiyou Shimizu was an imperious winner of the female kata at the Karate 1-Series A event at Salzburg ©WKF
Japan's Kiyou Shimizu was an imperious winner of the female kata at the Karate 1-Series A event at Salzburg ©WKF

The Japanese representatives lost three of the five finals in the kumite categories today.

But Masamichi Funahashi was victorious in the male kumite under-67kg.

The young karateka had participated in only in six international events before but he upset Uzbekistan’s Ikboljon Uzakov to win 5-0 and maintain Japan’s place atop the medal table.

Shimizu became the only competitor who has managed to take medals in all four major international events this year after claiming the gold medal in Salzburg.

The two-time world champion confirmed her favourite status with a convincing 5-0 victory over team-mate Natsuki Shimizu in the final of the female kata.

The male kata on the first day of competition had been won with similar emphasis by her compatriot Kazumas Moto.

Nearly three years after his last gold medal, Noah Bitsch of Germany prevailed in the male kumite under-75kg, defeating Japan’s Yusei Sakiyama 5-0.