Day 1 of the 2024 Kata World Championships in Las Vegas showcased the talent and commitment of Oceania’s athletes, with two Australian pairs representing the region in the U23 Nage-No-Kata and Katame-No-Kata divisions.
Bianca and Bernhard Tandean (Australia), a brother and sister duo, took to the tatami in the U23 Nage-No-Kata. Despite a strong performance, a few minor positioning issues affected their overall score. They finished with a commendable total of 333 points, narrowly missing out on a place in the finals. The pair will return tomorrow to compete in their favoured Ju-No-Kata event, with renewed focus and determination.
Yutaaka Wakamatsu and Nick Mackey (Australia) delivered an impressive Katame-No-Kata performance, scoring 374 points—the sixth-highest score of the preliminary round. Unfortunately, their placement in Pool One, which featured international kata powerhouses from Japan, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, meant they did not progress to the finals. Nevertheless, securing the sixth-best score in the world is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the effort, precision, and dedication they have invested in preparing for the World Championships.
Looking ahead to Day 2, New Zealand’s Sam Manu and Phouphayly Palilavong will represent Oceania in Goshin-Jutsu, continuing the region’s strong showing at this year’s event.
The Oceania Judo Union congratulates all competitors for their performances and wishes our athletes continued success on Day 2.