(Photo WKF)
Hosts Italy grabbed three gold medals at the Karate 1-Youth League karate championships delivering strong performances in Venice, that showcased the cream of Under-21 exponents.
Italy’s Vincenzo Pappalardo claimed the men’s kata title. He impressed the judges to defeat Germany’s Andrew Lyle Lück with a score of 25.10 to 24.10. His kata showed strength and rhythm from start to finish.
Ludovica Legittimo delivered in the women’s kumite -50 kg gold in a close match. She beat fellow Italian Emma Colletti 3-2 in a tactical bout decided in the final seconds.
Angelo Marino won the women’s kumite -84 kg category after a 0-0 final decided by Hantei or decision over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Sinan Paljevac. The match was tight, and Marino earned the victory through better initiative and control.
Meanwhile, Jessica Vlai of Germany won the women’s kata final with a clean and controlled performance. She beat Spain’s Carla Guardeño Leon 25.10 to 24.60 in a tight match that showed high technical quality.
Lithuania’s Miglė Liutkevičiūtė took the women’s kumite -55 kg title after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Helena Backovic of Montenegro. Both athletes kept a fast pace, but Liutkevičiūtė controlled the distance better in the last exchange.
France’s Monica Arzumian delivered one of the clearest wins of the day. She beat Croatia’s Korina Klaric 5-0 with sharp timing and strong counterattacks for the women’s kumite -61kg.
Greece’s Eirini-Grigoria Katsika earned the women’s kumite-68 kg gold with a solid 4-0 victory over Italy’s Anna Pia Desiderio. Katsika managed the match with consistent pressure and clean scoring techniques.
Ukraine’s Dariia Bulay came out on top in one of the most action-packed finals. She defeated Egypt’s Malak Elbarbary 9-4, showing strong offence and confidence throughout the women’s kumite +68kg final match.
Belgium’s Amin Abdelmalki won the men’s kumite -60 kg category after a 3-3 match against Portugal’s Gustavo Oliveira. Abdelmalki claimed the gold on criteria, reflecting his more effective scoring actions.
Portugal’s Guilherme Goncalves captured the men’s kumite -67 kg title with a clean 5-0 win over Greece’s Petros Karras. Goncalves kept control of the match from the opening exchange.
Netherlands’ Ricardo Franken took the men’s -75 kg crown with a 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ismail Zolota. Franken showed patience and precision to secure the points.
Italy’s Angelo Marino won the men’s kumite -84 kg category after a 0-0 final decided by Hantei or decision over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Sinan Paljevac. The match was tight, and Marino earned the victory through better initiative and control.
Egypt’s Yassin Saad closed the day with a strong 6-2 win over Italy’s Samuele Burrosi in the men’s kumite +84kg final. Saad’s power and timing allowed him to take charge early and maintain the lead.
