The third stop of the season of the 2018 Karate 1-Youth League is underway in Cancun (Mexico), with hundreds of young karatekas showing the increasing popularity of the sport among youngsters. After the first day of competition in the idyllic coastal city in Mexico, Russian karatekas are taking the lead with four gold medals. 

The third stop of the season of the 2018 Karate 1-Youth League is underway in Cancun (Mexico), with hundreds of young karatekas showing the increasing popularity of the sport among youngsters. After the first day of competition in the idyllic coastal city in Mexico, Russian karatekas are taking the lead with four gold medals. 

Over 500 young karatekas from 32 countries are gathering this week in Cancun for the third event of the year of the first-class series of international Karate events for youngsters, the Karate 1-Youth League. Promising karatekas are demonstrating their abilities with representatives from Russia, Mexico and the United States dominating the first day of competition.

Russia prevailed in the opening day with the gold medals claimed by Akhmed Akhmedov in Cadet Male Kumite -52kg, Nikita Kurakov in Cadet Male Kumite -57kg, Ivan Kargapolov in Cadet Male Kumite -70kg and Krill Kuznetcov in Junior Male Kumite -76kg. Representatives of the United States took the flag of the North American country to the top of the podium two times with the golds by Schuyler Maguigad in Junior Female Kumite -48kg and Frank Ruiz in Junior Male Kumite -55kg. Hosts of Mexico also celebrated two golds medals, the ones won by Erika Gabriela Luque Sanchez in Junior Female Kumite -53kg and Yaneth Quiroz Castillo in Junior Female Kata. 

Representatives of no less than nine countries saw the flags of their nations on top of the podium during the first day of competition. In addition to the gold medallists from Russia, Mexico and the United States, a host of promising karatekas took the spotlight in the opening day. Melissa Van Oudenaarden on The Netherlands won gold in Junior Female Kumite -59kg after taking silver in the Karate 1-Youth League Umag, while Hannes Koestenbaumer of Austria surprised in Junior Male Kata. 

Meanwhile, after representing her country in the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and after her success in the Youth Olympic Qualification tournament in Umag, Janessa Michelle Fonseca Romero of Puerto Rico went back to the top of the podium following her forceful demonstration in Junior Female Kumite +59kg. 

The competition continues on Sunday with the rest of the categories at stake. The Karate 1-Youth League Cancun follows the success of the events which were held in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Umag (Croatia). The 2018 Karate 1-Youth League will conclude with the last event in Venice (Italy) scheduled for December 14-16.