Junna Tsukii suffers early exit in Dubai World Championships


Junna Tsukii suffered an early exit in the 2021 World Karate Federation (WKF) Senior World Championships (female kumite -50 kg) Wednesday, Nov. 17 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Junna Tsukii (right) battles Bakhriniso Babaeva of Uzbekistan in the second round of the 2021 World Karate Federation (WKF) Senior World Championships (female kumite -50 kg) Wednesday, Nov. 17 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo from Karate Pilipinas)

Tsukii, one of the country's best bets in karate, scored a majority decision win against Sara Radicevska of North Macedonia in the opener before yielding to Bakhriniso Babaeva of Uzbekistan, 3-2 in the second round.

Babaeva then lost to Cylia Ouikene of Algeria in the next stage as Round 4 is currently ongoing as of this posting.

Fellow 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jamie Lim will be left competing for the bronze medal in the repechage round of the -61kg division.