(Photo WKF)
The World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships got underway in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, with an action-packed opening day. The finalists in all U21 categories were decided as thousands of young karatekas from 114 countries.
The day featured close contests, dominant performances and high-scoring bouts. The finalists will now compete for the first gold medals of the U21 competition.
U21 Female Kata: Paola Garcia Lozano to Face Gabrielle Henrique
Spain’s Paola Garcia Lozano secured her place in the final with a 5-0 victory over Daniela Garcia of Venezuela. Brazil’s Gabrielle Henrique joined her after defeating Japan’s Misuzu Kobayashi 3-2.
U21 Male Kata: Furkan Kaynar Meets Soshi Okumura
Türkiye’s Furkan Kaynar beat Spain’s Ivan Martin Montenegro 4-1 to reach the final. Japan’s Soshi Okumura delivered a 5-0 win over Australia’s Kento Oiwa to secure his place in the gold medal bout.
Cadet and Junior Male Team Kata: Italy to Face Türkiye
Italy advanced to the final with a commanding 5-0 victory over Slovakia. Türkiye matched that score against Egypt, setting up a final between two of the frontrunning teams.
Cadet and Junior Female Team Kata: Spain Faces Japan
Spain defeated Italy 5-0 to book its place in the final. Japan also recorded a 5-0 win, overcoming Egypt to set up an anticipated meeting with the Spanish team.
U21 Female Kumite -50kg: Christina Triada Pappa Meets Agnes Nyman
Greece’s Christina Triada Pappa defeated Japan’s Urara Yamaguchi 3-1. Sweden’s Agnes Nyman advanced after a 1-1 contest against Iran’s Cheshmeh Ghazal Fathi.
U21 Female Kumite -55kg: Alyssia Voorduin Faces Sally Abdou
The Netherlands’ Alyssia Voorduin edged Morocco’s Roumayssae Tarkou 2-1. Egypt’s Sally Abdou progressed after a victory by ‘Hantei’ or decision 0-0 against Iran’s Fatemeh JafarnejadivRigh.
U21 Female Kumite -61kg: Anastasiia Semenenko to Meet Korina Klaric
Germany’s Anastasiia Semenenko won 7-3 against Yana Konnava of WKF-2. Croatia’s Korina Klaric secured her final place with a 3-1 victory over Scotland’s Elize Bauld.
U21 Female Kumite -68kg: Uliana Baranova Faces Eirini-Grigoria Katsika
Ukraine’s Uliana Baranova defeated the Czech Republic’s Ema Tinavska 4-1. Eirini-Grigoria Katsika advanced after beating Spain’s Julia Just Clopes 5-2.
U21 Female Kumite 68+kg: Sara Tomic Meets Amalie Hakova
Croatia’s Sara Tomic defeated France’s Zera Jade Ozserttas, 2-0. The Czech Republic’s Amalie Hakova secured her place in the final with a 13-4 victory over Italy’s Marta Buono.
U21 Male Kumite -60kg: Amin Abdelmalki Faces Daniel Alejandro Cruz Romero
Belgium’s Amin Abdelmalki edged Italy’s Guido Squillante 1-0. Mexico’s Daniel Alejandro Cruz Romero advanced with a 4-1 win over Latvia’s Miroslavs Balzaris.
U21 Male Kumite -67kg: Savas Ogus to Face Alexandr Capmoale
Türkiye’s Savas Ogus dominated his semifinal against Armenia’s Yura Zalyan, winning 8-0. Moldova’s Alexandr Capmoale reached the final after an extraordinary 15-14 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Vedad Mujic.
U21 Male Kumite -75kg: Izan Martin Pena Meets Haitam Oufkir
Spain’s Izan Martin Pena produced a strong performance to defeat Türkiye’s Osman Burak Keles 9-1. Morocco’s Haitam Oufkir secured the other final spot with a 3-1 win over Montenegro’s Anes Arifaj.
U21 Male Kumite -84kg: Nikita Dmytrenko Faces Omar Osman
Ukraine’s Nikita Dmytrenko edged England’s Ashton Patrick 3-2 in a close semifinal. Egypt’s Omar Osman advanced with a 4-1 victory over Senegal’s Serigne Mbacke Seck.
U21 Male Kumite 84+kg: Ivan Kudzynau Meets Alexander Davies
WKF-2’s Ivan Kudzynau earned an 8-0 win over Denmark’s Lucas Houlberg Mejhede. Alexander Davies of Luxembourg secured his place in the final with a 3-0 victory over France’s Adam Tadjer.
