The 1st Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in the history of Karate ended last night in Buenos Aires. 6 gold medals have been given, 6 nations have won them. Japan and Iran each won 4 medals and lead the nation’s ranking. Special mention for Morocco wich won 3 medals, but none in gold.
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photo : Kphotos
The first big Olympic Karate party has just ended. The day of reckoning has come. But whatever the age category is, in this case the 15-18 years, the profile of the forces involved is almost identical.
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) held in Buenos Aires (October 17-18 for Karate) saw Japan and Iran largely dominate the tournament. With four finals, the Japanese fighters are the winners of the YOG, even if they won only one gold medal (Kokoro Sakaji in -59 kg) as the Iranians (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
In all, 15 nations leave Argentina with a medal in their pocket, including 6 with a gold medal (Japan, Iran, Belgium, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Egypt). Morocco is the only country, with Japan and Iran of course, to have won several medals, three in all ! A huge performance for the Moroccans, even if they failed to catch the gold (2 silver medals, 1 bronze).
All the podiums
Male
-61 kg
- Al Assiri (Ksa)
- Yamaoka (Jap)
- Edari (Mor) and Veseli (Mkd)
-68 kg
- Mahauden (Bel)
- Sekouri (Mor)
- Batyrgali (Kaz) and Ruggiero (Ita)
+68 kg
- Mohammadi (Iri)
- Ech-Chaabi (Mor)
- Bulut (Tur) and Crean (Irl)
Female
-53 kg
- Nasr Emgewily (Egy)
- Tahata (Jap)
- Khonakdartarsi (Iri) and Alikulova (Uzb)
-59 kg
- Sakaji (Jap)
- Chernysheva (Rus)
- Heydariozomcheloei (Iri) and Perovic (Ser)
+59 kg
- Saelid (Nor)
- Sawashima (Jap)
- Altooni (Iri) and Salisbury (GB)
Nation's ranking
- Japan (1 gold, 3 silver, 0 bronze)
- Iran (1, 1, 2)
- Belgium, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Egypt (1, 0, 0)
- Morocco (0, 2, 1)
- Russia (0, 1, 0)
- Kazakhstan, Italy, Turkey, Ireland, England, Macedonia, Uzbekistan (0, 0, 1)
