The 2024 World Cadet, Junior & U21 Karate Championships continued in Lido de Jesolo, Venice, with the second day focusing on the Junior eliminations. Hosted at the Palazzo del Turismo, this prestigious event has attracted a record-breaking 1,960 athletes from 113 nations, making it one of the largest gatherings of young karate talent.
On this second day, the eliminations for the Junior categories showcased fierce battles across both Kata and Kumite disciplines, with several countries already staking claims for potential medals as the competition moves toward the finals.
Junior Kata: Precision and Expression on Display
• Junior Kata Female:
The final in the Junior Kata Female category will see Henrique Yasmin (Brazil) take on Takata Azusa (Japan). Yasmin and Azusa outperformed their peers with grace, precision, and technical mastery, setting the stage for a gripping final.
The bronze medal matches will feature Nguyen Emily (Australia) vs Alvarez Fotheringham Julieta (Spain) and Bui Ngoc Nhi (Vietnam) vs Marques Rita (Portugal). These athletes performed admirably during the eliminations, showcasing the diversity of talent across continents.
• Junior Kata Male:
In the male Kata competition, the final match will be between Lopez Tomas Izan (Spain) and Okumura Soshi (Japan). Both competitors showed exceptional technique and fluidity, securing their spots in the gold medal bout.
For bronze, Abu Wahib Jonas (Germany) will face Klemz Thomas (France), and Vieira Joao (Portugal) will take on Gruitia Matthew (Canada). The matchups promise high levels of artistry and athleticism.
Junior Kumite: Speed and Power Dominate the Mats
Junior Kumite athletes put on a spectacular display of agility, strategy, and striking power. Here’s a breakdown of the final matchups and bronze medal bouts across weight categories:
• Junior Kumite Female -48 kg:
The final match will see Legittimo Ludovica (Italy) versus Nyman Agnes (Sweden). Both fighters exhibited tremendous speed and tactical prowess during the eliminations.
The bronze bouts will feature Uchida Towana (Japan) against Jalowiczorova Veronika (Slovakia), and Gubashieva Arnella (Individual Neutral Athletes) vs Konajeva Jevgenija (Latvia).
• Junior Kumite Female -53 kg:
In this category, Wolf Alexandra (Germany) and Natori Juria (Japan) will compete for gold after dominating their respective elimination rounds.
The bronze matches will be fought between Schmitt Elsa (France) and Marrucci Valentina (Italy), as well as Liaskalo Sofiia (Individual Neutral Athletes) vs Tarkou Roumayssae (Morocco).
• Junior Kumite Female -59 kg:
The final will feature Arzumian Monica (France) against Koishybai Gulnur (Kazakhstan).
The bronze medal contests will see Elsayed Jana Hazem (Egypt) take on Makarenko Violetta (Ukraine) and Inada Nao (Japan) face Orujova Gulay (Azerbaijan).
• Junior Kumite Female -66 kg:
Bauld Elize (Scotland) and Tantawi Mariam (Egypt) will compete in the final for the -66 kg category.
The bronze matches will pit Katsika Eirini-Grigoria (Greece) against Ksanitini Maysa (Tunisia), while Cattaneo Elisa (Italy) faces Bahajjou Jihane (Morocco).
• Junior Kumite Female 66+ kg:
In the heaviest female category, the final will be between Hakova Amalie (Czech Republic) and Tomic Sara (Croatia).
The bronze medal matches will feature Bulay Dariia (Ukraine) against Damjanovic Jovana (Montenegro) and Kopfer Anna (Hungary) against Elbarbary Malak (Egypt).
• Junior Kumite Male -55 kg:
Taolek Thanakorn (Thailand) will face Rashid Hani (Jordan) in the final, both demonstrating impressive skill and strategy throughout the eliminations.
The bronze medal matches will see Alariani Ali (Saudi Arabia) vs Cruz Romero Daniel Alejandro (Mexico) and Ayten Berke Ulas (Turkiye) against Abdikadyr Miras (Kazakhstan).
• Junior Kumite Male -61 kg:
The final will see Califano Emanuele (Italy) take on Alsaif Saad (Saudi Arabia) after strong showings from both fighters.
Bronze matches will be fought between Neagu-Barzan Alexandre (Romania) and Rombeaux Matt (Belgium), as well as Eltohany Abdalla Aly (Egypt) vs Nakamura Taiyo (Japan).
• Junior Kumite Male -68 kg:
The final in the -68 kg category will feature Mohamed Mohamed Ashraf (Egypt) versus Toniolo Alvise (Italy).
Bronze matches include Ozturk Ahmet (Turkiye) vs Raiswich Roman (Germany) and Arnautovic Ali (Bosnia and Herzegovina) vs Hierso Hairiss (France).
• Junior Kumite Male -76 kg:
Strahija Sven (Croatia) and Kadyrgali Alikhan (Kazakhstan) will meet in the final after dominating their elimination rounds.
Bronze matches will see Abbasov Elmurad (Azerbaijan) against Ben Fathallah Yacine (France), and Arifaj Anes (Montenegro) vs Leal Moreno Iker (Spain).
• Junior Kumite Male 76+ kg:
The final in the heaviest male category will see Supino Federico (Italy) take on Alqahtani Abdullah (Saudi Arabia).
The bronze medal matches will be fought between Seck Serigne Mbacke (Senegal) and Davies Alexander (Luxembourg), as well as Bohunicky Lukas (Slovakia) vs Miki Toji (Japan).
Top Medal Contenders by Country After Two Days
As the second day wraps up, several nations have emerged as top contenders for medals in both Kata and Kumite. Countries such as Japan, Italy, and Egypt have placed athletes in multiple finals and bronze medal matches, demonstrating their dominance in the sport. Here’s a look at the leading countries in terms of potential medal hauls after two days of competition:
Top Contending Countries After Two Days:
1. Japan – Leading in both Kata and Kumite across male and female categories, with numerous athletes in finals and bronze medal bouts.
2. Egypt – Strong performances in Kumite, with multiple fighters advancing to finals in both the U21 and Junior divisions.
3. Italy – The host country has a strong showing in Kumite, particularly in the Junior division.
4. Germany – Solid representation in Kata and Kumite, with medal prospects in several categories.
5. France – Particularly strong in the Junior Kumite categories, with several finalists and bronze medal contenders.
Other countries such as Portugal, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Croatia, and Saudi Arabia have also placed athletes in key positions for medals, ensuring a diverse representation on the podium.
Conclusion
With two days of eliminations behind us, the competition is heating up at the 2024 World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships. The upcoming bronze medal bouts and finals promise to deliver intense action as these young athletes battle for their place on the world stage.
Stay tuned for more updates as we head into the final rounds of this exciting tournament!