GOT ROBBED: he loss because his kick was too "spectacular"??

[theking]

Olympic gold medal karate match ruined after spectacular head-kick KO deemed too forceful



TOKYO (AP) – The final bout of karate’s Olympic debut seemed to have everything that makes combat sports so fascinating, right down to an incredible ending that should have made fans hungry for more of a martial art fighting for a place on future Olympic programs.

Instead, the gold medal match in men’s over-75 kilogram kumite ended with a messy, confusing penalty for a kick that was apparently too spectacular for karate.

Established champion Sajad Ganjzadeh faced up-and-coming star Tareg Hamedi for a gold medal at the iconic Budokan. The karatekas even represented Iran and Saudi Arabia, two nations with an extraordinaril y complex history.

Hamedi built a lead in the opening minute before launching the spectacular final strike of the Tokyo tournament, connecting exquisitely on a pure left-footed kick to Ganjzadeh’s head and upper body. Hamedi launched the Iranian champion backward and left him unconscious on the tatami, his eyes staring vacantly upward.

Hamedi did a celebratory hop and let loose with a scream after apparently winning the first gold medal in Saudi Arabia’s entire Olympic history.

It was a cinematic end to the biggest international showcase in the competitive history of karate, which fought for 50 years to get on the Olympic stage.

[theking]

Well, it's "after the fact" now:

Karate Combat chief says Tareg Hamedi ‘robbed of a gold medal’ at Olympics, offers rematch