Exciting Second Day of the 2024 European Senior Karate Championship in Zadar
The second day of the 2024 European Senior Karate Championship unfolded with a thrilling array of individual and team events, leaving spectators at the Krešimir Ćosić Hall in Zadar, Croatia, in awe. The day’s program featured the final rounds in the last of the individual categories, the team kata competitions, and the eagerly anticipated first round of team kumite. Here’s a recap of the day’s electrifying action and the notable results.
Final Showdowns in Individual Kumite Categories
Male Kumite -67kg
In a nail-biting final, Yves Martial Tadissi of Hungary squared off against Nenad Dulovic of Montenegro. Tadissi clinched the gold with a display of precision and power. For the bronze medal, Huseyn Mammadli (Azerbaijan) and Joaquim Mendes (Portugal) faced off, with Mammadli securing the win. The second bronze went to Georgios Baliotis (Greece), who outmaneuvered Boran Berak (Croatia) to stand on the podium.
Final Results:
- Gold: Tadissi Yves Martial (Hungary)
- Silver: Dulovic Nenad (Montenegro)
- Bronze: Mammadli Huseyn (Azerbaijan), Baliotis Georgios (Greece)
Male Kumite -60kg
Orges Arifi (Albania) and Christos-Stefanos Xenos (Greece) met in the final bout, with Arifi’s tenacity earning him the gold. In the bronze medal contests, Ahmed El Amine Hellal (France) bested Anass Abdelmalki (Belgium), while Eray Samdan (Turkiye) overpowered Farid Savadov (Azerbaijan).
Final Results:
- Gold: Arifi Orges (Albania)
- Silver: Xenos Christos-Stefanos (Greece)
- Bronze: Hellal Ahmed El Amine (France), Samdan Eray (Turkiye)
Female Kumite -55kg
Germany’s Mia Bitsch and Spain’s Sonia Pereira Villalobos locked horns in the final, with Bitsch emerging victorious. For the bronze medals, Anzhelika Terliuga (Ukraine) and Maria Stoli (Greece) fought a spirited contest, with Terliuga prevailing. Veronica Brunori (Italy) also won her bronze medal match against Tuba Yakan (Turkiye).
Final Results:
- Gold: Bitsch Mia (Germany)
- Silver: Pereira Villalobos Sonia (Spain)
- Bronze: Terliuga Anzhelika (Ukraine), Brunori Veronica (Italy)
Female Kumite -50kg
In the final, North Macedonia’s Mihaela Mishovska clinched victory over Croatia’s Ema Sgardelli in an intense contest. The bronze medal matches saw Selva Nur Akkurt Kucukoglu (Turkiye) prevail over Yuliia Palashevska (Ukraine) and Erminia Perfetto (Italy) triumph over Styliani-Eleni Tzilia (Greece).
Final Results:
- Gold: Mishovska Mihaela (North Macedonia)
- Silver: Sgardelli Ema (Croatia)
- Bronze: Kucukoglu Selva Nur Akkurt (Turkiye), Perfetto Erminia (Italy)
Team Kata: Spain Dominates
Female Team Kata
In a display of impeccable synchronization and artistry, Spain’s female team kata won gold over Italy. The bronze medal contests saw the Czech Republic and Serbia emerging victorious over Turkiye and France, respectively.
Final Results:
- Gold: Spain
- Silver: Italy
- Bronze: Czech Republic, Serbia
Male Team Kata
Spain continued their kata dominance by securing gold in the male team kata against Turkiye. In the bronze medal contests, Azerbaijan bested Montenegro, and France triumphed over Italy.
Final Results:
- Gold: Spain
- Silver: Turkiye
- Bronze: Azerbaijan, France
The First Round of Team Kumite Begins
The day also saw the first round of team kumite competitions, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion in the following days. With nations fielding their best fighters, the battles for supremacy in team kumite are expected to intensify.
Looking Forward
As the competition progresses, the European Senior Karate Championship in Zadar is proving to be a celebration of skill, strategy, and sportsmanship. With several team and individual events still to unfold, karate enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more world-class performances from Europe’s top athletes.
Stay tuned for further updates as the championship continues!