The 2023 Karate 1-Youth League Porec concluded Sunday with karatekas from France and Belgium dominating the final medal table of the event after winning a total of seven gold medals each.

No less than 21 countries went home with a gold medal, a testament to the global popularity of the sport among youngsters.

The final day had the U14 categories taking the spotlight. Spanish and French athletes were the big winners of the day.

After their impressive performance on the previous days of the competition, the French delegation added one more title today as Julia Vilanova won the crown in U14 Kata Female. The French karateka edged Egypt’s Renad Abdelhamid in a tight final bout 41.1 to 41.1.

France’s second gold on the final day was achieved in U14 Kumite Male -45kg. Soufian Chaibi won the crown following a 2-0 victory over Ukraine’s Kyryl Matvieiev.

Spain also finished the event on a high note after taking the crown in U14 Kumite Male. Hugo Gonzalez upset Japan’s Takuto Imamura 42.5 to 42.1 and extended Spain’s domination of the Kata categories.

The second gold medal of the day for the Spanish delegation came in U14 Kumite Female -52kg as Alejandra Gomez Maurino edged Hana Kecap of Serbia 1-1.

Spain’s success today continued in U14 Kumite Male divisions. David Gomez Maurino claimed the third title for the Spaniards after beating Alex Ghukasyan of France 3-2 in U14 Kumite Male -40kg.

Meanwhile, the host country of Croatia celebrated their third gold medal of the event in U14 Kumite Female +52kg. Paula Panic took the flag of the organising nation to the top of the podium following a 7-4 triumph over Belgium’s Maissa Sridi.

Despite this defeat, Belgium wrapped up an outstanding performance in Porec with a tally of seven gold medals. Calogero Quaranta took a convincing 9-1 victory in the final of U14 Kumite Male -50kg over Marks Zakmans of Latvia to put the Belgium delegation on top of the medal table.  

Also completing a deserving participation in Porec, the representatives of Ukraine celebrated their fifth gold medal at the event as Oleksandr Cheban became the champion of U14 Kumite Male -55kg. The Ukrainian karateka defeated Balasz Ruzsinszki of Hungary 4-2.

The final of U14 Kumite Female -42kg was an All-German affair, with Nives Podvorec defeating teammate Hanna Olschewski by “Hantei” or decision 0-0.

Serbia claimed their second gold medal of the event as Jana Vincic beat Tamara Dogatovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0 in U14 Kumite Female -47kg.

Enkel Hamiti of Kosovo extended the list of countries with gold medals in Porec as the young karateka defeated England’s Caleb Gilbert in the final of U14 Kumite Male +55kg (3-2).

(Pictures: Croatian Karate Union)

2023 KARATE 1-YOUTH LEAGUE POREC