The massive 2022 Karate 1-Series A Kocaeli concluded Sunday with a celebration of the popularity of the sport. Karate's powerhouse nation of Egypt topped the final medal table of the event with four gold medals.

The titles in Kata categories went to new names of the sport as Sum Man Lo of Hong Kong and Karim Ghaly of Egypt took the crowns. The representative of Hong Kong claimed the gold of Female Kata after defeating Georgia Archontia Xenou of Greece. In the all-Egypt final of Male Kata, Karim Ghaly upset team-mate Mohamed Zeyad Mohamed.

Ghaly’s victory opened the gold medal count for Egypt. Ola Eldamany followed suit and won gold in Female Kumite -68kg after beating Sadea Becirovic of Croatia 1-1.

The third gold for Egypt came in Male Kumite -67kg. Moamen Mohamed defeated Kazakhstan’s Damir Kamal 3-2.

The Female Team Kata of Egypt closed the gold medal list of the powerhouse nation with their victory over Iran.

Hosts of Turkiye also had reasons to celebrate. Burak Ozdemir took the title in Male Kumite +60kg after edging Iran’s Ali Meskini by “Hantei” or decision (0-0).

The second gold for the organising nation was taken in Male Team Kata as the local squad defeated Kuwait.

Newcomers also took the spotlight in Kocaeli. Fidan Teymurova of Azerbaijan beat Ema Sgardelli of Croatia 4-1 in Female Kumite -50kg. Meanwhile, in Female Kumite -55kg, Louiza Abouriche of Algeria defeated Gizem Bugur of Germany 5-2.

In Male Kumite -75kg, Serbia’s Ljubisa Maric reached the top of the podium after beating Omer Faruk Yurur of Turkiye by 7-0.

Lea Avazeri of France used the experience in her favour to claim gold in Female Kumite -61kg. The French karateka edged Reem Khamis of Germany 1-1.

In Female Kumite +68kg, former continental champion Guadalupe Quintal of Mexico won the title following a victory by “Hantei” or decision over Hira Nur Kasatura of Turkiye (0-0).

The crown in Male Kumite -84kg was claimed by Iran’s Mahdi Khodabakhshi after beating Turkiye’s Hasan Arslan 3-0. Representatives of the powerhouse nation of Iran took another title, in Male Kumite +84kg, as Mahmoud Nemati beat Omer Faruk Arslan of Turkiye 1-0.

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