Tokyo 2020 is finally happening!

How did Tsuneari Yahiro qualify to attend Tokyo 2020? 

The karate competition at the 2020 Olympic Games will have 82 Olympic athletes competing, 40 female and 42 male contestants. The 82 athletes will be split across Kata and Kumite, 21 in Kata and 61 in Kumite.  37 Countries have qualified for Tokyo 2020 karate competition.

Tsuneari has qualified for the Male under 75kg Kumite division

10 Athletes for Each Division

• 1 from the host nation, Japan
• 4 from Olympic Ranking as at May 2021
• 3 from at the Paris Qualification Tournament
• 2 Continental Representatives*

* Tsuneari is the Oceania Male representative

What is the Continental Representative? 

The Olympic Games is an inclusive event where each sport aims to include all continents. For karate, 2 places, across all divisions, were reserved for a male and a female to represent Oceania. 

The highest ranked female Oceania athlete in any category was Andrea Anacan (in female Kata - representing New Zealand). The highest ranked male Oceania athlete in any category was Tsuneari Yahiro (in male under 75kg Kumite - representing Australia). 

This means Australia and New Zealand have both selected athletes to be a part of Karate’s official debut as an Olympic Sport!