Sandra Sanchez made history today as she became the first champion of the Karate competition at ANOC World Beach Games. The first-ever international tournament of Beach Karate was held in Doha (Qatar) and it crowned Sandra Sanchez as the new star of Karate on the sand. 

Sandra Sanchez made history today as she became the first champion of the Karate competition at ANOC World Beach Games. The first-ever international tournament of Beach Karate was held in Doha (Qatar) and it crowned Sandra Sanchez as the new star of Karate on the sand. 

With sun, sea and sand of Katara Beach in Doha as a magnificent setting, the first edition of the Karate competition at the ANOC World Beach Games concluded today after two thrilling and historic days of spectacular showcase of sporting abilities.

In Female Kata, World champion Sandra Sanchez confirmed once again her number one status and was proclaimed one of the best Kata karatekas of all times with the gold medal in Beach Karate. The current World and European title-holder, defending Grand Winner and gold medallist at the European Games extended her outstanding tally of awards with the crown of the first World Beach Games. In the final today in Doha, Sanchez beat Fatemeh Sadegui of Iran. 

The Iranian karateka had produced the biggest upset of the day with her qualification to the final. Fatemeh Sadegui is placed in the 23rd position in WKF World Ranking and has the silver medal at the 2015 World Junior Championships as her best result. Against all odds, the 19-year-old athlete surprised favourites and qualified for the title-deciding bout. 

In the final, Sanchez performed “Suparinpei”, one of her favourite kata to take a score of 26.28. Fatemeh Sadegui received 24.60 points. 

Sandra Sanchez said: “I am extremely happy to win this first gold medal of Karate at the ANOC World Beach Games. I am also happy because I won the world title on the tatami and now on the sand as well. I am sure that this tournament will help Karate to continue showing how great it is. We are now part of the Beach Games and I hope we will continue also in the Olympic Games”. 

“I am proud that with this victory, I could give back to all those who are helping me so much lately. I hope we can continue in this road until Tokyo 2020,” added the World champion. 

The bronze medals went to Maria Dimitrova of the Dominican Republic and Mo Sheung Grace Lau of Hong Kong China who defeated USA’s Sakura Kokumai and Jessica Kwong respectively in the third place bouts.  

CLICK HERE to go to the summary of Male Kata competition of the ANOC World Beach Games. 

 (Pictures: S.A./WKF and ANOC)