As the 2024 World Cadet, Junior & U21 Karate Championships entered their third day at the Palazzo del Turismo in Lido de Jesolo, Venice, the focus shifted to the Cadet categories. Athletes from around the world competed fiercely in both Kata and Kumite, aiming to secure their spots in the finals and medal rounds. This competition has already delivered memorable performances across all categories, and today was no different.
Cadet Kata: Precision and Poise
The Cadet Kata competitions featured some incredibly skillful performances from young athletes. Both the male and female categories delivered high levels of technical mastery and creativity, with many countries showing their depth in the discipline.
• Cadet Kata Male:
The final for the male category will see Hamazawa Takeru (Japan) take on Koc Tarik (Turkiye). Both athletes demonstrated a high level of precision and focus, which propelled them through the elimination rounds.
In the bronze medal matches, Mateus Vasco (Portugal) will face Zhao Jens Chun Kiu (New Zealand), and Freda Matteo (Italy) will compete against Ellithy Adam (Egypt). These athletes showcased remarkable talent and will battle for a spot on the podium.
• Cadet Kata Female:
In the female category, the final will feature Mai Quynh Anh Nguyen (Vietnam) versus Ito Wakana (Japan). Both competitors impressed with their poise, technique, and confidence.
The bronze medal matchups will see Vaucelle-Spelle Ninon (France) face Manca Giulia (Belgium) and Sanchez Isabella (USA) take on Lehner Tamara (Austria). These athletes showed great promise, and the bronze medal matches are expected to be highly competitive.
Cadet Kumite: Power and Speed on Display
The Cadet Kumite competitions were nothing short of spectacular, with fierce battles across various weight categories. Here’s a breakdown of the key matchups heading into the finals:
• Cadet Kumite Female -47 kg:
The final will be a thrilling contest between Vincic Jana (Serbia) and Oda Rinri (Japan), two athletes who demonstrated speed and tactical mastery.
In the bronze medal matches, Fernandes Ema (Portugal) will face Hefner Zsofia Agnes (Hungary), while Balanescu Ioana (Romania) competes against Afifi Malak (Egypt).
• Cadet Kumite Female -54 kg:
Hnes Mariia (Ukraine) will face Kraczaj Wiktoria (Poland) in the final, with both athletes having dominated their respective elimination rounds.
The bronze medal matches will feature Scarfone Morgane (France) vs Djukic Katarina (Montenegro) and Boyadzhieva Adriana (Bulgaria) vs Goncalves Leonor (Portugal).
• Cadet Kumite Female -61 kg:
The final will see Elmorsi Nourhan (Egypt) take on Ecchili Graziella Annael (Italy). These athletes showcased tremendous determination and skill.
The bronze medal contests will feature Soendergaard Hannah Bath (Denmark) vs Ozturk Gulen Irmak (Turkiye), and Rejraji Yasmine (Belgium) vs Petrenko Alina (Individual Neutral Athletes).
• Cadet Kumite Female 61+ kg:
Bsharat Mariam (Palestine) will face Mohamed Roaa (Egypt) in the final.
For bronze, Kurtanovic Ajlin (Bosnia and Herzegovina) will compete against Corredu Nicole (Italy), and Juarez Martinez Valeria Linett (Mexico) takes on Milovanova Valeriia (Individual Neutral Athletes).
• Cadet Kumite Male -52 kg:
The final will be between Arafat Abdulrahman (Saudi Arabia) and Viechkanov Maksym (Ukraine).
Bronze matches will feature Amandurdyyew Gurbannazar (Turkmenistan) vs Nascimento Leonardo (Brazil) and Tekuev Alim (Individual Neutral Athletes) vs Namyslik Felix (Germany).
• Cadet Kumite Male -57 kg:
The final will pit Alharasees Hatem (Jordan) against Yagura Kabu (Japan). Both fighters showed strong determination in their elimination rounds.
The bronze medal contests will include Apicella Carmine (Italy) vs Rios Garcia David (Spain), and Plichta Bruno (Slovakia) vs Lambert Leo (France).
• Cadet Kumite Male -63 kg:
Mostafa Mouaz (Egypt) will fight Flores Ortiz Jorge Damian (Guatemala) for the gold medal.
Bronze matches will feature Todorovic Filip (Luxembourg) against Birac Nikola (Croatia), and Dangelo Fabian (Venezuela) vs Zoueini Rayan (Belgium).
• Cadet Kumite Male -70 kg:
The final will see Saljiu Jusuf (Montenegro) take on Tommasino Almerico (Italy).
The bronze matches will feature Fontana Lisandro (Argentina) vs Gundogdu Eymen Doruk (Turkiye), and Albargawi Bader (Saudi Arabia) vs Gad Ali Alaaelden (Egypt).
• Cadet Kumite Male 70+ kg:
The final will feature Albargawi Amro (Saudi Arabia) versus Chiba Arashi (Japan).
For the bronze medals, Hasib Sameer (England) will face Kanibek Sungkar (Kazakhstan), and Oiffe Lenny (France) will compete against Kobelev Ilia (Kyrgyzstan).
Leading Countries After Three Days
With three days of eliminations complete, we can start to see which countries are emerging as dominant forces in the 2024 World Cadet, Junior & U21 Karate Championships. Here’s a look at the top-performing countries so far, based on finalists and potential medal counts:
Top Countries by Finalists and Bronze Medal Matches:
1. Japan – Consistently placing athletes in both Kata and Kumite finals across multiple age groups, Japan remains the dominant force in the competition.
2. Egypt – A standout nation, especially in the Kumite categories, Egypt has secured numerous finalists and bronze medal opportunities in both the Junior and Cadet divisions.
3. Italy – The host nation has several athletes in the finals and bronze medal bouts across both Kumite and Kata, making it one of the top medal contenders.
4. Saudi Arabia – Particularly strong in the Cadet Kumite categories, with multiple athletes competing in finals and for bronze.
5. Portugal – The Portuguese team has also shown remarkable strength in both Kata and Kumite, particularly in the Cadet and Junior divisions.
Countries like France, Turkiye, Germany, and Ukraine have also placed athletes in key positions for medals, ensuring a diverse and competitive podium across all categories.
Conclusion
The 2024 World Cadet, Junior & U21 Karate Championships are living up to their reputation as one of the most thrilling events in the sport. With three days of eliminations now complete, the stage is set for some unforgettable finals as these young athletes compete for their place on the world stage.
Stay tuned for more updates as we head into the final rounds of this prestigious event!