The Karate-1 Premier League circuit resumed in Moscow today ©WKF

Olympic champion Sandra Sanchez was in ominous form as she booked her place in the final of the women's kata event in style at the Karate-1 Premier League in Moscow.

The Spaniard, also the reigning world and European champion, topped her pool with a score of 27.66 points, the highest of the competition.

Japan's Hikaru Ono awaits for Sanchez in the final after his performances in the group stage were rewarded with a total of 26.20.

"It makes me very happy to be able to fight for a gold medal again," said Sanchez, one of 10 Olympic medallists competing at the event in the Russian capital. 

"I still can’t believe that I won a gold medal at the Olympics, and after the experience in Tokyo.

"I really wanted to go back to the competition."

Olympic champion Sandra Sanchez will have the chance to add yet more silverware to her collection after reaching the women's kata final ©Getty Images
Olympic champion Sandra Sanchez will have the chance to add yet more silverware to her collection after reaching the women's kata final ©Getty Images

Sanchez is now targeting retaining her title at November's World Championships in Dubai.

"My biggest dream right now is to try to complete the 'triple crown': winning the European Championships, the Olympic Games, and the World Championships all in the same year," she added. 

"No one has been able to do that."

Elsewhere, Olympic bronze medallist Gabor Harspataki of Hungary was forced into the repechage rounds in the men's under-75kg kumite division.

Austria's Bettina Plank, who also took bronze when karate made its long-awaited Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, had no such problems in the women's under-50kg event as she comfortably progressed through her pool.

Elimination rounds are set to continue tomorrow before finals in all categories are held on Sunday (October 3).