{"id":16784,"date":"2026-10-18T09:39:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T01:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=16784"},"modified":"2026-10-18T09:40:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T01:40:31","slug":"wakana-and-takeru-strike-gold-again-for-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wakana-and-takeru-strike-gold-again-for-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Wakana and Takeru strike gold again for Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan\u2019s dominance in kata continued at the World Cadet, Junior &amp; U21 Championships in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, as Wakana\u00a0Ito and Takeru Hamazawa both claimed the junior world titles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After winning gold in the cadet divisions at the 2024 edition in Venice-Jesolo, Italy, the Japanese stars repeated their success in the junior categories, underlining their potential for the future of the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ito Wakana secured the women\u2019s junior kata crown with a 4-1 victory over Austria\u2019s Tamara Lehner in the final. Her latest world title adds to an impressive record that includes the 2024 cadet world crown and continental titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Japanese karateka dominated much of her campaign, recording 5-0 victories over Sofiya Rusakova, Neda Beljkas, Eleni Zervou and Indonesia\u2019s Zaskia Putri Salurante in the semifinals. She also defeated Spain\u2019s Rocio Castro Lopez 4-1 in the final pool round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am very happy because I won in cadet two years ago in Venice and now I won again in junior. It makes me feel very important,\u201d said Ito. \u201cI enjoyed my performance and being able to win here again after winning in Venice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The young champion looks up to two-time World champion and Olympic Games silver medallist Kiyou Shimizu, who comes from her hometown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Takeru Hamazawa followed with gold in men\u2019s junior kata, beating Portugal\u2019s Vasco Mateus 4-1 in the final. He reached the decisive bout after a strong run that included wins over France\u2019s Thomas Huyet-Dumong (4-1), Spain\u2019s Jose Angel Leon De La Pena &nbsp;(3-2), Israel\u2019s Yali Idan Loebel (5-0) and the United States\u2019 Craig Mizokami (3-2). He then defeated Hong Kong, China\u2019s Nuri Wong 5-0 in the semifinals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019d been losing in the national junior championships, so I was really happy to finally win in my last year of junior divisions,\u201d said Hamazawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019d been under a lot of pressure, as I was when I competed at the 2024 World Championships in Venice, but I\u2019m glad we managed to pull it off. There\u2019s huge, huge pressure, but I am glad that we can continue winning. And because I was able to stand in the very same setting as I did two years ago, I was able to enjoy the same spectacle all over again,\u201d said Hamazawa, who counts karate icon and Olympic Games champion Ryo Kiyuna among his idols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With their second consecutive world titles across age divisions, Ito and Hamazawa have confirmed their place among the young names to watch in international kata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Japan, Egypt and the USA lead memorable day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan led the junior competition with four consecutive gold medals in junior categories, while the USA claimed two cadet kumite titles. Egypt also secured multiple victories, and host nation Poland celebrated a memorable gold medal through Natalia Balut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cadet Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Candela Pena Garcia claims another world title<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spain\u2019s Candela Pena Garcia defeated Egypt\u2019s Jana Kassem 5-0 in Cadet Kata Female. The current continental champion secured back-to-back world and European titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Javokhir Djakhangirov ends Japan\u2019s run<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uzbekistan\u2019s Javokhir Djakhangirov beat Edmond Zhuo of the USA 5-0 in Cadet Kata Male. He won his first world title and became the first non-Japanese champion in the category since 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Abdelrahim Elzourkany dominates Cadet -52kg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Egypt\u2019s Abdelrahim Elzourkany defeated Ukraine\u2019s Mark Dorosh 9-0 in Cadet Kumite Male -52kg. His commanding performance ended the bout before the allocated time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mustafa Alnajjar delivers Jordanian gold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jordan\u2019s Mustafa Alnajjar beat Slovakia\u2019s Simon Kovacik 2-0 in Cadet Kumite Male -57kg. His victory secured Jordan\u2019s first cadet gold since 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Marko Djorlev wins for North Macedonia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">North Macedonia\u2019s Marko Djorlev defeated Hungary\u2019s Adam Bagi 4-1 in Cadet Kumite Male -63kg. He claimed his first world title after previously winning gold at the Karate One Youth League in Porec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Victoria Jacoby adds world gold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The USA\u2019s Victoria Jacoby beat Spain\u2019s Celia Cofrades del Castillo 3-1 in Cadet Kumite Female -47kg. The current continental champion added the world title to her achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hanna Olschewski ends Germany\u2019s wait<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Germany\u2019s Hanna Olschewski defeated the USA\u2019s Presley Allen 4-1 in Cadet Kumite Female -54kg. Germany celebrated its first cadet world title in the category since Johanna Kneer\u2019s triumph in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mihaela Arcalean secures another US victory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The USA\u2019s Mihaela Arcalean beat T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s Ela Su Yildirim 1-0 in Cadet Kumite Female -61kg, earning the country\u2019s second gold of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nina Macura wins for Serbia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serbia\u2019s Nina Macura defeated Latvia\u2019s Jelizaveta Avruskina 3-0 in Cadet Kumite Female 61+kg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Viktor Kvesic takes Croatian gold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Croatia\u2019s Viktor Kvesic beat Uzbekistan\u2019s Shohjahon Atakhanov 1-0 in Cadet Kumite Male -70kg to become world champion. He follows his brothers Andjelo and Ivan\u2019s footsteps extending the legacy of victorious Croatian karate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Shamo Kamilov triumphs for Azerbaijan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Azerbaijan\u2019s Shamo Kamilov defeated Portugal\u2019s Daniel Ciuntu 3-0 in Cadet Kumite Male 70+kg and gave the European country its first title of the day,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Junior Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wakana Ito reclaims the world crown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan\u2019s Wakana Ito defeated Austria\u2019s Tamara Lehner in Junior Kata Female. After winning the cadet world title in 2024 and the continental junior title in 2025, she added the junior world crown to her record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Takeru Hamazawa completes another world-title journey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan\u2019s Takeru Hamazawa beat Portugal\u2019s Vasco Mateus 4-1 in Junior Kata Male. The 2024 cadet world champion and 2025 junior continental champion secured another major title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jun Mitsuie wins on world debut<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan\u2019s Jun Mitsuie defeated Azerbaijan\u2019s Vusal Ganbarov 3-0 in Junior Kumite Male -55kg, winning gold at his first World Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Takamasa Yatoji extends Japan\u2019s streak<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan\u2019s Takamasa Yatoji beat Morocco\u2019s Souhaib Azibou 2-0 in Junior Kumite Male -61kg. His victory marked Japan\u2019s fourth consecutive gold in the junior competition that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mouaz Mostafa adds another continental crown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Egypt\u2019s Mouaz Mostafa defeated Japan\u2019s Maari Maeda in Junior Kumite Male -68kg. The bout ended 2-2, with Mostafa securing victory as the current continental champion and adding another world title to his achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sofia Pavone takes Italy\u2019s gold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Italy\u2019s Sofia Pavone beat Portugal\u2019s Isis Matos 3-2 in Junior Kumite Female -48kg and reached the top of the podium for the first time today for the powerhouse nation of the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Maryam Echamaa wins for France<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">France\u2019s Maryam Echamaa defeated Egypt\u2019s Malak Afifi in Junior Kumite Female -53kg. The bout ended 1-1, with Echamaa taking France\u2019s first gold of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Morgane Scarfone dominates the final<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">France\u2019s Morgane Scarfone beat Vietnam\u2019s Tran Thi Cam Tu 6-0 in Junior Kumite Female -59kg. The current continental runner-up also won gold at this year\u2019s Karate One Youth League in Porec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mariam Bsharat adds another major title<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Palestine\u2019s Mariam Bsharat defeated Spain\u2019s Noa Lopez Gonzalez 3-1 in Junior Kumite Female -66kg. The current continental champion and 2024 cadet world champion also boasts three Karate One Youth League titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Natalia Balut delivers a historic Polish victory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Poland\u2019s Natalia Balut beat Egypt\u2019s Roaa Eltaher 4-2 in Junior Kumite Female 66+kg. The current continental bronze medallist won her first gold medal in front of family and friends. Her victory gave Poland its first gold of the tournament and its first title at the event since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sungkar Kanibek claims Kazakhstan\u2019s gold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kazakhstan\u2019s Sungkar Kanibek defeated Scotland\u2019s Cullen Brodie 4-0 in Junior Kumite Male -76kg. After winning bronze in Manila this year, he added a world title to his achievements, having also won the cadet continental championships in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vuk Vucinic wins a high-scoring final<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Montenegro\u2019s Vuk Vucinic beat Ukraine\u2019s Vladyslav Rudenko 7-4 in Junior Kumite Male 76+kg. The current continental champion secured the world title in a closely contested final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The championships continue in Bielsko-Biala, with the U212 categories set to bring more young karatekas into the spotlight as the event celebrates talent from across the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan\u2019s dominance in kata continued at the World Cadet, Junior &amp; U21 Championships in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, as Wakana\u00a0Ito<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[38],"class_list":["post-16784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-karate"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.3 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Japan\u2019s dominance in kata continued at the World Cadet, Junior &amp; U21 Championships in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, as Wakana Ito and Takeru Hamazawa both claimed the junior world titles. 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