The fourth day of the European Senior Karate and Para-Karate Championships Zadar 2024 brought the medals bouts. Croatian athletes secured eight appearances for medals, and they won a total of six.
The first Croatian representative today was Ivan Kvesić, who competed for the bronze medal in the -84 kg category. He was convincingly successful against the Spaniard Alejandro Moline Arencone, whom he defeated 7:0, securing Croatia’s first medal at the Championship.
Ivan’s brother, Anđelo Kvesić, defeated the Italian Matteo Avanzini in the final of the +84 kg category with a score of 6:2, thus winning his second European gold in the individual category, following the gold he won in 2022 in Gaziantep.
The second gold medal for Croatia was won by Ivan Martinac, in the -75 kg category. In the final match, Ivan defeated the Italian Daniele de Vivo with a score of 4:0, securing his first European medal in the individual category.
Ema Sgardelli claimed the title of European champion in the -50 kg category. The young athlete from Rijeka had already won the U21 bronze medal earlier this year, and this was her first appearance at the European Championships in the senior category. With 1 minute and 20 seconds of a match remaining, Ema defeated the karateka from North Macedonia, Mihaela Mishovska, with a score of 8:0.
Boran Berak competed for the bronze medal in the -67 kg category. After losing to the Greek karateka Georgios Baliotis with a score of 5:2, Boran finished his performance in Zadar in fifth place.
The Croatian Female Team Kumite, consisting of Mia Greta Zorko, Lea Vukoja, Lucija Lesjak, Sadea Bećirović, and Nikolina Golomboš, also secured fifth place. In the match for the bronze medal, the Turkish team emerged victorious with a score of 2:0. Eda Eltemur defeated Lea Vukoja with a score of 3:1, while Sudenur Aksoy defeated Mia Greta Zorko with a score of 6:2.
After today, Croatia ranks second on the karate medal table, with three gold medals and one bronze. Germany is ahead, having won one more bronze medal.
Croatian representatives in para-karate were successful, winning two medals. Daniela Topić secured her third consecutive European gold in the category K22. Stipe Barić won the silver medal in the category K22.
The last Croatian competitor in Zadar will be Julija Karadakić, who will compete in the final of K30 category on Sunday.
Results, schedule, and other information about the Championships are available on the How to follow page.
Entry for spectators to the European Senior Karate and Para-Karate Championships Zadar 2024 is free.
