With one victory in three doubles, Kalnins is currently in fourth place in Group B and has almost lost the chance to fight in the semi-finals.
Kalnins, who starts in the weight category up to 67 kilograms, failed 2:11 against the Frenchman Stephen da Costa.
The French karate player took the lead 2: 0 with a kick in the middle of the body, but after the mutual attack the result became 3: 1 in favor of the opponent. The Latvian regained one point with a shot, but at the beginning of the last minute da Costa reached 4: 2. Half a minute later, the Frenchman with another shot gained a three-point lead and then did two techniques worth three points – 11: 2.
It has already been reported that in the first duel he lost to Jordan Abdel Rahman Almasatf 3: 8, and in the second 4: 2 he beat Venezuela Andres Eduardo Maderu-Delgado.
Kalnins in subgroup B will also fight with Iranian Hamun Derafshipur, who represents the refugee team. Italian Angelo Creschenco withdrew from the tournament after the first fight.
At the Olympics, 11 karatistas were divided into two subgroups of five and six wrestlers each. The two best athletes of each group after one lap tournament will enter the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will fight for gold, but both losers will receive bronze prizes.
In a conversation with the Latvian media this week, Kalnins mentioned the tall and award-winning Egyptian Ali El-Savi, who will fight in the second group, as the most uncomfortable possible opponent.
Kalniņš usually starts in the weight category up to 60 kilograms, which in Tokyo is combined with the category up to 67 kilograms, so not all opponents are encountered during his career. Of the athletes participating in the category up to 67 kilograms, Kalnins has previously competed only with Derafshipur, who won bronze at the 2018 World Championships.
Da Costa is a -67 weight class karatist, 2018 world champion and three-time European champion, as well as a world ranking leader. Kreščenco is also the 2018 world champion, only in the weight category up to 60 kilograms. The Italian has been a frequent opponent of Jelgava in recent years, and at the end of April Kalnins defeated him in the third round of the Premier League.
Madera-Delgado starts daily in the weight category up to 67 kilograms, with the Venezuelan winning several awards in the karate premier league stages and the bronze medal in the 2016 championship. Almasatfa also comes from this category, who has not excelled in his career so far, but won silver karate in the Premier League stage in April.
Kalnins is the champion of the 2019 European Games and the 2017 European Games. Three years ago, he won bronze at the European Championships and fifth place at the World Championships.
Karate in Tokyo will debut in the Olympic Games program.
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