Li Lirisman Among Top 16 at Karate 1 Series A in Salzburg
BUDO athlete Li Lirisman competed at the international Karate 1 Series A tournament held in Salzburg. After nearly three years away from international competitions, Li Lirisman secured three victories and advanced to the top 16 athletes in the tournament's under 55 kg category.
In the women's under 55 kg weight category, 81 athletes competed for medals.
Karate 1 Series A is an international series of tournaments organized by the World Karate Federation (WKF), featuring athletes from WKF member countries. Participants at Series A stages can earn world ranking points and compete in strong international competition.
The Salzburg event was the fourth and final tournament of the 2026 Karate 1 Series A season. More than 1,200 athletes from 82 countries took part in the competition.
Li Lirisman started the tournament confidently. In the first match, she defeated Magdalena Bozhinoska from North Macedonia 4:2.
In the second round, Li Lirisman faced Valentina Vega Rojas from Chile and won 2:0.
In the third fight, Li Lirisman met Amy Pollard from Scotland and secured another victory, 4:2.
In the match for a place in the top eight, Li Lirisman competed against Veronika Brunori of Italy. This time, the victory went to the Italian athlete 9:1, ending Li Lirismans performance at the 1/8 finals.
The chance to continue through the repechage depended on Brunori reaching the final. However, in the quarterfinal, the Italian lost to Nina Kvasnicova from Slovakia 2:3. Since Brunori did not advance to the final, Li Lirisman did not have the opportunity to contest for the bronze medal.
The Salzburg tournament marked an important step for Li Lirisman’s return to the international competitive arena after a prolonged break.
She returned to active competition earlier this year at the Northern Countries Championship in Tartu, winning gold in the women's under 61 kg category.
After a long hiatus, Li Lirisman decided to continue competing at a high international level.
Three victories in four matches and a spot among the top 16 Karate 1 Series A athletes in Salzburg marked a strong comeback for Li Lirisman on the international stage.
Her next goal is to continue participating in international tournaments and accumulate WKF world ranking points.
The BUDO club congratulates Li Lirisman on her commendable performance and wishes her success in upcoming competitions!