Lithuanian Karatekas Win Bronze in Japan Amidst Host Nation's Early Exit

Lithuanian full-contact karate athletes Eventas Gužauskas and Paulius Žimantas secured bronze medals at the second Karate Champions' Championship held in Tokyo, Japan. The event, which featured a surprise elimination of all Japanese competitors in the men's quarterfinals, saw the Lithuanian duo face Kazakh opponents in the semifinals.

Gužauskas advanced by defeating Japan's Yusaku Watanabe in a close match, while Žimantas progressed after his opponent, Yuki Okada, sustained an injury. However, both Lithuanians were subsequently defeated. Gužauskas received two warnings for illegal hand strikes against Kazakhstan's Andžejus Kinzerskis, ultimately losing the match. Žimantas also lost his semifinal bout to Kazakhstan's Anton Zimariov after an early successful strike.

In the women's division, all semifinalists were Japanese. Lithuanian participants Brigita Gustaitytė and Aneta Meškauskienė were eliminated in the quarterfinals. The men's championship concluded with Kazakhstan's Andžejus Kinzerskis defeating his compatriot Anton Zimariov in the final. The Karate Champions' Championship is a high-level commercial competition offering significant prize money, with winners receiving 10 million Japanese yen.