New Rules benefit the taller in Karate now

New Asian Games karate scoring rules, which boost the value of kicks to the head, have drastically reduced the gold medal chances of the vertically-challenged, says one angry coach.

New Asian Games karate scoring rules, which boost the value of kicks to the head, have drastically reduced the gold medal chances of the vertically-challenged, says one angry coach.

HT Image

Under previous rules, all kicks scored a point; under the new system, a successful blow to the head earns three points.

Laos coach Sonesack Hnansana believes that the new rules will favour taller fighters. "It's a problem for our guys because of their height," said Hnansana.

"A person needs to be tall now to kick to the head, but Laotian and Thai people are short. In the US, Europe and Iran, people are tall. So Iran will be strong here."