After sealing their place in both the men’s and women’s kata team finals yesterday, Japan guaranteed another medal today.

The Japanese women’s kumite team defeated Kosovo, Switzerland and France to set up a meeting with Kazakhstan in the semi-finals.

Kazakhstan put up a strong performance but could not do enough to stop the Japanese juggernaut in its tracks.

Sarara Shimada and Yuzuki Sawae claimed the all-important victories as Japan booked their place in the final for the first time since 2018.

Japan are also one step closer to ending a 17-year wait for the women’s team kumite crown.

It has been an even longer wait for their final opponents Spain who have not emerged victorious since 2002.

Spain, who also triumphed in 1994, defeated defending champions Egypt on their way to the final along with Australia and hosts Hungary.

They defeated Croatia 2-0 in the semi-finals with Maria Torres and Carlota Fernandez winning their matches.

Kosovo will compete against Kazakhstan for bronze, while Croatia will face Egypt for the other place on the podium.

Japan’s hopes of reaching a fourth successive final were over in the second round of the men’s team kumite competition after losing a sensational bout against title holders Italy.

They were just one second away from stunning the Italian team only for Matteo Avanzini to pull off an incredible last-gasp kick to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Italy were unable to produce another miracle in the next round as they were beaten by a brilliant Jordanian team in the third round.

Boosted by that success, Jordan defeated Montenegro and Slovakia before seeing off Azerbaijan in the semi-finals.

Mohammed Al Jafari, Hasan Al Masarweh and Ahmad Shadid came out on top in their matches to defeat Azerbaijan.

Jordan will meet another first-time world finalist in Egypt in the battle for the men’s team kumite crown.

Egypt defeated Croatia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine before producing an inspired display to stun France.

The French team featuring reigning Olympic and world champion Steven Da Costa had no answer to Egypt as Taha Mahmoud, Ahmed Elmasry and Abdullah Mamdouh all secured victories.

Today also saw the first medals won at this year’s World Championships in Para karate.

The Netherlands’ Elise Reedijk and Portugal’s Antonio Pereira were the first to confirm a podium place by winning respective women’s and men’s intellectually impaired K21 bronzes.

Italy's Federica Yakymashko and Egypt's Moustafa Hassan were the other two bronze-medal winners in that category.

Azerbaijan enjoyed a double dose of success in the men’s wheelchair user K30 competition, with Eldar Ahmadov and Vidadi Khaligov sealing bronze.

In the women's wheelchair user K30 event, Turkey’s Nesrin Cavadzade Nesrin and France's Virginie Boyer achieved bronzes.

Canada's Natalie Olson and Croatia's Daniela Topic earned places on the women's intellectually impaired K22 podium with bronzes.

The men’s intellectually impaired K22 competition saw Portugal's Joao João Estrela Azevedo and Egypt's Hazem Elsabbagh confirm third place.

The bronze medallists in the men’s and women's blind and visually impaired K10 competition were also determined.

Kazakhstan's Lyazzat Zhussupova and Italy's Benedetta Belotti sealed podium spots in the women's, while Alex Dorin of Romania and José Roberto González Carreón of Mexico claimed men's bronzes.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow.