By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipina-Japanese Junna Tsukii moved closer to a 2021 Tokyo Olympics berth after clinching the gold medal in the World Karate Federation (WKF) Premier League.
Making a strong case for Olympic contention, Tsukii topped the 50-kg division of the 2021 Karate 1 Premier League held in Lisbon, Portugal.
The WKF Premier League is regarded as the highest level of karate tournament in the world so Tsukii’s latest achievement will further boost her rankings and strengthen her bid to represent the Philippines in Tokyo.
Tsukii is currently ranked no. 10 overall and no. 5 in Asia. According to the Olympics karate rule, the top four karatekas of the world will automatically gain a spot.
The Fil-Jap will have her last chance of qualification this coming June as Tsukii is set to compete in the last Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Paris, France.
Tsukii will look to carry over her momentum from a dominating Lisbon stint after outlasting world no. 6 Radwa Sayed of Egypt and world no. 8 Alexandra Recchia of France.
“I would like to thank everyone who have supported me to this point, this medal is for YOU,” Tsukii posted on her social Instagram account.
