Turkish athlete wins gold at World Karate Championships

By Serhat Bagbars

ISTANBUL

A young Turkish athlete became world champion in Cadet Kata at the World Karate Federation (WKF) Junior, Cadet, and U21 Championships in Spain, a Turkish sports body said on Wednesday.

The Turkish Karate Federation said in a statement that Enes Ozdemir won a gold medal in Kata on the first day of the championships in Santa Cruz De Tenerife, beating Japan’s Juta Hibi.

“I would like to thank all my coaches for teaching me karate. I am very happy to bring this medal to my country,” the new world champion said, according to World Karate Federation’s website.

“I gave all my best in the final, so I think I deserved the medal. When the competition is over we were all friends,” Ozdemir added.

Turkey also won two silver medals at the event, which is held every two years and runs until Oct. 29, the statement said.