The European Karate Championship is set to witness exhilarating action on Saturday as karatekas from across the continent prepare to showcase their skills in Kata and Kumite. With representatives from over 20 nations, the competition will feature some of the finest athletes vying for continental glory.
Finals Showdown
The finals will bring together a diverse group of finalists representing 14 different nations. Italy, Turkey, Spain, and Germany are set to lead the charge with multiple athletes in the gold medal matches.
- Italy will be represented by Terryana D’Onofrio (Female Kata) and Daniele De Vivo (Male Kumite -75kg).
- Turkey boasts a strong presence with Dilara Bozan (Female Kata), Ali Sofuoglu (Male Kata), and Enes Bulut (Male Kumite -75kg) all in contention for gold.
- Spain has three finalists in Damian Hugo Quintero (Male Kata), Sonia Pereira Villalobos (Female Kumite -55kg), and Alejandro Molina Arencon (Male Kumite -84kg).
- Germany also brings formidable contenders to the mat, including Johanna Kneer (Female Kumite +68kg), Mia Bitsch (Female Kumite -55kg), and Konstantinos Mastrogiannis (Male Kumite -84kg).
Full List of Finalists:
- Female Kata:
- Terryana D’Onofrio (Italy) vs. Dilara Bozan (Turkey)
- Male Kata:
- Damian Hugo Quintero (Spain) vs. Ali Sofuoglu (Turkey)
- Female Kumite +68kg:
- Johanna Kneer (Germany) vs. Rochelle Walters (England)
- Female Kumite -68kg:
- Alizee Agier (France) vs. Elena Quirici (Switzerland)
- Female Kumite -61kg:
- Ingrida Bakos Suchankova (Slovakia) vs. Lejla Topalovic (Austria)
- Female Kumite -55kg:
- Mia Bitsch (Germany) vs. Sonia Pereira Villalobos (Spain)
- Female Kumite -50kg:
- Mihaela Mishovska (North Macedonia) vs. Ema Sgardelli (Croatia)
- Male Kumite -84kg:
- Konstantinos Mastrogiannis (Greece) vs. Brian Timmermans (Netherlands)
- Male Kumite -75kg:
- Daniele De Vivo (Italy) vs. Ivan Martinac (Croatia)
- Male Kumite -67kg:
- Yves Martial Tadissi (Hungary) vs. Nenad Dulovic (Montenegro)
- Male Kumite -60kg:
- Orges Arifi (Albania) vs. Christos-Stefanos Xenos (Greece)
Bronze Medal Bouts
The bronze medal contests will provide an additional layer of excitement as athletes fight for a podium finish. Turkey leads with five athletes in these matchups, followed by Italy with four and Greece, France, and Ukraine each with two.
Full List of Bronze Medal Contenders:
- Female Kata:
- Veronika Miskova (Czech Republic) vs. Paola Garcia Lozano (Spain)
- Georgia-Archontia Xenou (Greece) vs. Jasmin Juettner (Germany)
- Male Kata:
- Artur Neto (Portugal) vs. Anthony Vu (Sweden)
- Yaroslav Fedorov (Ukraine) vs. Alessio Ghinami (Italy)
- Female Kumite +68kg:
- Nancy Garcia (France) vs. Fortesa Orana (Kosovo)
- Zala Maria Zibret (Slovenia) vs. Maria Torres Garcia (Spain)
- Female Kumite -68kg:
- Vlera Qerimi (Kosovo) vs. Maria Isabel Nieto Mejias (Spain)
- Ilma Rahmanovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) vs. Elina Sieliemienieva (Ukraine)
- Female Kumite -61kg:
- Ashley Kakiay (Netherlands) vs. Fatma Naz Yenen (Turkey)
- Miruna Mihaela Malauta (Romania) vs. Reem Khamis (Germany)
- Female Kumite -55kg:
- Anzhelika Terliuga (Ukraine) vs. Maria Stoli (Greece)
- Veronica Brunori (Italy) vs. Tuba Yakan (Turkey)
- Female Kumite -50kg:
- Selva Nur Akkurt Kucukoglu (Turkey) vs. Yuliia Palashevska (Ukraine)
- Erminia Perfetto (Italy) vs. Styliani-Eleni Tzilia (Greece)
- Male Kumite -84kg:
- Alejandro Molina Arencon (Spain) vs. Ivan Kvesic (Croatia)
- Valerii Chobotar (Ukraine) vs. Hasan Arslan (Turkey)
- Male Kumite -75kg:
- Tiago Duarte (Portugal) vs. Petar Zaborski (North Macedonia)
- Enes Bulut (Turkey) vs. Nemanja Mikulic (Montenegro)
- Male Kumite -67kg:
- Huseyn Mammadli (Azerbaijan) vs. Joaquim Mendes (Portugal)
- Georgios Baliotis (Greece) vs. Boran Berak (Croatia)
- Male Kumite -60kg:
- Ahmed El Amine Hellal (France) vs. Anass Abdelmalki (Belgium)
- Eray Samdan (Turkey) vs. Farid Savadov (Azerbaijan)
Conclusion
With the stage set for some intense karate action, the European Karate Championship promises to be a thrilling spectacle. Expect the athletes to bring their best as they compete for continental supremacy and national pride.
Stay tuned for the results as the matches unfold this weekend!