The dream of the 2024 Olympic Games is alive – for all German Taekwondo champions, but especially for a quartet. Also, it was strange.
The German Taekwondo Olympic hopefuls Supharada Kisskalt, Yanna Schneider, Imran Özkaya and Lorena Brandl confidently won German championship titles at the 2023 finals – and can continue to dream of Paris 2024. At the same time, all German champions secured a starting place for the European Olympic qualification tournament in March in Berlin.
“Anya” Kisskalt: First title with first participation
In the class up to 49 kilograms, Supharada “Anya” Kisskalt celebrated a 2-0 win against the only 19-year-old Leonie Mayer. The 21-year-old Kisskalt, who recently finished third at the European Games, became German champion for the first time. After the fight she was overjoyed in the sports show: “I’m happy that I won gold at the first German championships. It’s a great experience for me.” For the native Thai, the year started frustratingly with a first-round loss at the World Cup. Now she can shine again.
Özkaya: No vacation for the Olympic dream
Imran Özkaya was also very happy in the class up to 68 kilograms. Just over a week before his 24th birthday, Neu-Ulmer defeated Ranye Drebes 2-0. After his fourth German championship title, Özkaya told ARD: “I’ve been training every day, two or three times a day for a long time, so that I can fulfill my dream. No vacation this year, a week at most. I really want to get Germany’s place at the Olympics.”
Schneider and Brandl sovereign
Yanna Schneider won her third German senior title in the category up to 67 kilograms with a 2-0 win over Vanessa Maria Körndl. In the class over 67 kilograms Lorena Brandl triumphed with a 2:0 score against Alema Hadzic. The World Cup third in 2022 also wants to attack again after missing the 2021 Olympic qualification and is hoping for a ticket in 2024.
Calik: Fourth title in a year – fourth weight class
And then there was another historical moment of a great Taekwondo talent: The only 17-year-old Enis Calik won his first men’s championship title in the class up to 58 kilograms. Curious and historical: the native of Hamburg won his fourth German championship title this year and in the fourth age group: Previously, Calik had already won in the youth, junior and senior categories – and now also in the senior Olympics.