Karate world champion Kiyuna contracts coronavirus as cases rise in Japan

Dec 20, 2020 | News On Japan

Dec 20, 2020 (insidethegames.biz) - World champion karateka Ryo Kiyuna, who is among Japan's leading hopes for gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, has contracted coronavirus.

His master Tsuguo Sakumoto revealed the reigning world champion in kata had recorded a high temperature yesterday morning, but did not have any severe symptoms and still had an appetite, as reported by Japanese news agency Kyodo News.

Kiyuna is now recovering at home while Sakumoto and other pupils are self-quarantining.

The local health authority is looking to find those who had come into close contact with Kiyuna and inform them of the need to self-isolate.

The 30-year-old claimed his ninth successive national title last Sunday (December 13) at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan before returning to his native prefecture Okinawa the following day.

Nippon Budokan is due to host judo and karate during Tokyo 2020.

According to Kyodo News, Kiyuna then spent the next three days training in Naha.

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