The final day of the EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships in Tbilisi culminated in a thrilling display of skill and determination, as the new up-and-coming stars of European Karate were crowned. France topped the final medal table of the event with 14 medals, including seven golds.
CADET KATA: RITA MARQUES AND TARIK KOC WIN GOLD
In the Cadet Kata Female category, Rita Marques of Portugal emerged victorious after a closely contested bout against Tamara Lehner of Austria 41.90 to 41.20.
Meanwhile, In the Cadet Kata Male division, Tarik Koc of Turkiye triumphed over Thomas Klemz of France with a score of 41.3 to 40.1.
JUNIOR KATA: PAOLA GARCIA LOZANO AND JONAS ABU WAHIB DOMINATE
Moving on to the Junior categories, Paola Garcia Lozano of Spain added the Junior continental crown to her title in the Senior European Championships and the bronze medal at the World Senior Championships. She outperformed her opponent, Mai Linh Bui of France, with a score of 44.3 to 42.0.
In the Junior Kata Male category, Jonas Abu Wahib of Germany exhibited extraordinary skill, prevailing over Muhammed Efe Yurtseven in a tightly contested match with a score of 42.1 to 41.30.
U21 KATA: CHIARA MANCA AND GUIDO POLSINELLI TRIUMPH
The U21 Kata Female division saw Chiara Manca of Belgium emerge triumphant against Michaela Cukanova of Slovakia 41.80, to 41.70.
In the U21 Kata Male category, Guido Polsinelli of Italy delivered a stellar performance to claim the gold medal. Polsinelli defeated Aidan Randall Lueck of Germany with a score of 42.30 to 41.10.
FEMALE CADET KUMITE: GOLDS FOR TURKIYE, ITALY, SCOTLAND AND MONTENEGRO
In the Cadet Kumite Female -47 kg division, Beyza Akkaya of Turkiye emerged triumphant after a dominant performance against Jana Vincic of Serbia 7-2.
Meanwhile, in the Cadet Kumite Female -54 kg division, Bianca Capone of Italy exhibited exceptional talent as she secured the gold medal by defeating Ili Hellen of Germany 3-0.
Elize Bauld of Scotland showcased her resilience and skill in the Cadet Kumite Female -61 kg division as she secured the gold medal by defeating Natalia Balut of Poland with a score of 5-2.
In the Cadet Kumite Female 61+ kg division, Una Rakovic of Montenegro displayed her dominance as she secured the gold medal by defeating Dalia Dawoud of Germany with a commanding score of 6-0.
MALE CADET KUMITE: GIGI ALANIA BRINGS FIRST GOLD FOR HOSTS
In the Cadet Kumite Male -52 kg category, local favourite Gigi Alania of Georgia delighted the home crowd by clinching the gold medal. Alania exhibited exceptional technique and resilience as he defeated Maksym Viechkanov of Ukraine with a score of 2-0.
The Cadet Kumite Male -57 kg category saw Serhii Stankov of Ukraine emerge as the champion as he defeated Leo Lambert of France with an impressive score of 10-1.
Moving on to the Cadet Kumite Male -63 kg category, Vuk Vucinic of Montenegro triumphed after a hard-fought battle against Rayan Zoueini of Belgium 7-3.
The Cadet Kumite Male -70 kg category witnessed an intense showdown between Ali Arnautovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hela Kiria of Ukraine. In a tightly contested match, Arnautovic prevailed with a narrow score of 1-0.
Finally, in the Cadet Kumite Male 70+ kg category, Lenny Malcoiffe of France delivered a stellar performance to claim the gold medal after defeating Jahangir Gayibov of Azerbaijan with an impressive score of 9-1.
JUNIOR FEMALE KUMITE: TWO GOLD MEDALS FOR FRANCE
In the Junior Kumite Female -48 kg category, Agnes Nyman of Sweden emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle against Ludovica Legittimo of Italy (0-0, victory by “Hantei” or decision)
Meanwhile, in the Junior Kumite Female -53 kg category, Buse Kilic of Turkiye won gold after a closely contested match against Helena Backovic of Montenegro. Kilic secured the title through “Hantei” or decision 0-0
Sydney Yvon of France delivered a stellar performance in the Junior Kumite Female -59 kg category defeating Katarzyna Lewandowska of Poland with a commanding score of 4-0.
In the Junior Kumite Female -66 kg category, Faith Porquet of France won the crown after a hard-fought battle against Ajla Sipovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, securing the gold medal with a score of 2-1.
Jovana Damjanovic of Montenegro displayed her superiority in the Junior Kumite Female 66+ kg category, taking the gold medal after defeating Amalie Hakova of the Czech Republic with a commanding score of 11-3.
JUNIOR KUMITE MALE: UTA PONIAVA DELIGHTS HOME FANS
Meanwhile, in the Junior Kumite Male -55 kg division, Farid Hajizada of Azerbaijan showcased his dominance, securing victory over Muhammet Safa Yilmaz of Turkiye with a score of 4-2.
The Junior Kumite Male -61 kg division witnessed an exciting showdown between Aslan Dostuyev of Azerbaijan and Nazarii Prannychuk of Ukraine. In a thrilling encounter that ended 3-3, Dostuyev emerged victorious.
Moving on to the Junior Kumite Male -68 kg division, Uta Poniava of Georgia impressed the numerous local fans in attendance with his impeccable technique and control as he secured the gold medal by defeating Islam Ogragli Mustafa of Turkiye with a score of 4-0.
The Junior Kumite Male -76 kg division saw Gennaro Ingenito of Italy deliver a dominant performance, securing victory over Sven Strahija of Croatia with a score of 4-0.
Finally, in the Junior Kumite Male 76+ kg division, Adam Tadjer of France claimed the title after a closely contested match against Artem Aleksieienko of Ukraine, securing victory with a narrow score of 1-0.
U21 KUMITE FEMALE: PROMISING KARATEKAS CROWNED
In the U21 Kumite Female -50 kg category, Chloe Breuzard of France claimed the title with an impressive performance, defeating Zuzanna Bernaciak of Poland with a score of 11-1.
Meanwhile, in the U21 Kumite Female -55 kg category, Kseniya Dronchanka of Poland avenged her teammate’s defeat as she emerged triumphant against Nina Kvasnicova of Slovakia with a score of 3-3.
Emina Sipovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina claimed the gold medal in the U21 Kumite Female -61 kg category after a convincing victory over Hana Debeljak of Slovenia 4-1.
Elina Sieliemienieva of Ukraine won the crown in the U21 Kumite Female -68 kg category, defeating Anna Pia Desiderio of Italy with a score of 5-3, confirming her favourite status.
In the U21 Kumite Female 68+ kg category, Nikolina Golombos of Croatia displayed her dominance, securing victory over Zeyna Gaballa of Turkiye with a score of 9-4.
U21 KUMITE MALE: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA WRAP UP IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
In the U21 Kumite Male -60 kg division, Ahmed El Amine Hellal of France claimed the gold medal after a closely contested match against Anass Abdelmalki of Belgium by “Senshuu” or first unopposed point 1-1.
The U21 Kumite Male -67 kg division witnessed a thrilling encounter between Bekir Grabus of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ika Sulamanidze of Georgia. Despite the support from the stands, Sulamanidze could not overcome Grabus’ efficacy to emerge victorious 2-1.
In the U21 Kumite Male -75 kg division, Heorhii Pitsul of Ukraine reached the top of the podium over Omer Faruk Yurur of Turkiye with a score of 2-0.
The U21 Kumite Male -84 kg division witnessed a thrilling encounter between Gor Nersisyan of Armenia and Vitomir Trajkovski of North Macedonia 3-3 with the title going to the representative of Armenia.
Finally, in the U21 Kumite Male 84+ kg division, Anes Bostandzic of Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged triumphant after defeating Osman Osmanli of Azerbaijan with a convincing score of 8-0.
The winners in the Team Kata categories completed the list of new European champions. France prevailed in Female Cadet and Junior Team Kata with a hard-fought victory over Spain (scores of 41.20 to 40.00) while Italy defeated Spain in Male Cadet and Junior Team Kata with scores of 41.60 to 40.50.
As the curtains draw to a close on the memorable 2024 EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships in Tbilisi (Georgia), participants and spectators alike depart with memories of thrilling matches and remarkable displays of young talent. The next edition of the European Karate’s age-group event will be held in Bielsko-Biala, Poland in 2025.