The city of Lodz (Poland) hosted the 2022 edition of the European University Games. As the largest European multisport student event, the 2022 European University Games gathered young athletes from all over Europe with Karate becoming one of the highlights of the event.
Nearly 300 young karatekas from 27 countries participated in the event in Lodz. Participants in the tournament which is governed by the European University Sports Association (EUSA) are European university teams and individuals.
Representatives of Gazi University in Turkey topped the medal table with three gold medals, followed by St. Ciril and Methodius University of Skopje in North Macedonia, Marmara University in Turkey, and South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University K.D. Ushinkogo in Ukraine.
Turkey prevailed in Male Kata with victories for Enes Ozdemir and Gazi University team. The title in Female kata went to Zuzana Augustinova of the Czech Republic while the University of Helsinki in Finland took gold in Female Team Kata.
Powerhouse nations of the sport dominated the competition in Male Kumite categories. Rijad Dzuho of Bosnia and Herzegovina took the title in Male Kumite +84kg, as Burak Ozdemir of Turkey won gold in Male Kumite -60kg.
The crowns in Male Kumite -67kg and -75kg went to David Petkov of North Macedonia and Davit Makyan of Armenia while Andrii Toroshanko of Ukraine won the title in Male Kumite -84kg. The delegation of St. Ciril and Methodius University of Skopje in North Macedonia won the crown in Male Team Kumite.
Kinga Harast took the flag of the organising country to the top of the podium in Female Kumite +68kg, while Aysima Karakaya of Turkey won gold in Female Kumite -61kg.
The competition in Female Kumite was dominated by Ukraine with four crowns. Yuliia Palashevska won gold in Female Kumite -50kg, Diana Shostak took the title in Female Kumite -55kg, Elina Sieliemienieva prevailed in Female Kumite -68kg, and the Odessa Mechnikov National University won the crown in Female Team Kumite.
The next edition of the EUSA European University Games will be held in the cities of Debrecen and Miskolc in Hungary in 2024.
