16 medals, 6 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze. That’s the great result obtained by Turkey at the Youth European championships held in Aalborg, Denmark (February 8-10). Behind, Italy, with 11 medals (6, 4, 6) ranks 2nd and Russia, 12 medals but only one silver (5, 1, 6), completes the nations’ podium.

By Florian Fournier

Photo : Kphoto

 

With the largest number of medals (16) and the greatest number of gold medals (6), Turkey finishes best nation of the Youth European championships held last week-end, in Kata as in Kumite. With 11 medals, Italy ranks 2nd thanks to its bigger number of silver, just ahead of Russia and its 12 medals (5, 1, 6).

In the U21 category, only Deniz Muratcan (-67 kg) win the gold medal. After his victory against Ukraine’s Naida Valentyn in the final, the young Turkish cut his hair to celebrate his victory.

Still in U21, the next generation of champions, Eda Eltemur (+68 kg), Demiturk Gulsen (-50 kg), maybe the new Serap Ozcelik, and Koc Arzu Firdevs (Kata), won the silver medal.

ITALY AND RUSSIA VERY CLOSE

Nevertheless, the best nation in this U21 category is not Turkey but Italy. Out of its 5 gold medals, 3 were won in U21 by Carola Casale (Kata), Nicole Murabito (-50 kg) and Veronica Brunori (-67 kg). The two other gold medals were won by Carmine Luciano (Junior -55 kg) and Asia Agus (Junior -48 kg). The next Italian generation is ready…

Like Italy, Russia keeps going her best formation. After its good performance last year at home in Sotchi, Russia confirms its potentiel. Lead by her Senoir vice-world champion, Victoria Isaeva (-68 kg), who finished 2nd in this competition, beaten by France’s Lea Avazeri (3-1), Russia won 5 gold medals. Anna Rodina (U21 -61 kg), Vladislav Taldykin (Junior -68 kg), Valeria Golubeva (Junior +59 kg), Anna Chernysheva (Junior -59 kg), Akhmed Akhmedov (Cadet -52 kg).

Azerbaijan (5 medals, 4 gold, 1 bronze) and France (11 medals, 3 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze) completes the European Top 5.

Besides these big Karate nations, some small countries distingued themselves as Macedonia, wich won 2 gold medals thanks to Petar Spasenovski (U21 -84 kg) and Doan Osmani (U21 -75 kg) and 2 silver ones, or Kosovo, which won one silver and one bronze medal.

Nations’ ranking

  1. Turkey (6 gold, 4 silver, 6 bronze)
  2. Italy (6, 4, 6)
  3. Russia (5, 1, 6)
  4. Azerbaijan (5, 4, 1)
  5. France (3, 3, 5)
  6. Spain (3, 2, 4)
  7. Macedonia (2, 2, 0)
  8. Hungary (1, 2, 0)
  9. Latvia (1, 1, 1)
  10. Portugal, Austria (1, 0, 3)