Poreč Shines Bright: A Spectacular WKF Karate-Tournament in the K1 Youth League

Poreč Shines Bright: A Spectacular WKF Karate-Tournament in the K1-Youth League

Poreč, one of the most beautiful small towns in Croatia, once again provided a stunning backdrop for the largest youth tournament of the WKF, the Youth League Poreč. Under bright sunshine and pleasant temperatures, the picturesque town transformed into a mecca for young martial artists from around the world. This year, the Youth League, with a total of 6000 athletes in the U12 to U21 age categories, was the largest ever.

A Global Atmosphere Amidst the Heat

Despite the extreme heat, the atmosphere in the hall was electrifying. Clubs from Brazil, Hong Kong, Australia, Morocco, the USA, and many other countries created a vibrant, international vibe that perfectly captured the spirit of the competition.

Our Athletes in the Spotlight

The performances of our young athletes were particularly exciting.

Valentina Grüner (U12): The talented daughter of Christian Grüner, Valentina Grüner, impressively fought her way through the U12 Youth Cup and eventually secured second place. Her performances promise a bright future.

Emina Sipovic (U21, Bosnia, -61kg): Emina Sipovic, who leads the world rankings in her weight class, showcased her full skill set under the hot conditions. After a convincing 6:0 victory in the quarterfinals against a German squad athlete, she won 4:0 in the semifinals against a Croatian. In the thrilling final, she defeated the German Anastasia Semeneko 3:2, securing the gold medal. A shining moment for Emina and Team Punok. Emina expressed her gratitude to her team: “Thank you so much, your support means so much to me.”

Dora Fleischer (U21, Hungary, +68kg): Dora Fleischer had a tough start and narrowly lost in the first round with 3:3 against a Ukrainian (Senshu Ukraine). Since her opponent was eliminated in the next round, Dora's competition ended early.

Ili Hellen (U18, Germany, -59kg): The competition was also challenging for Ili Hellen. She lost in the first round against a Ukrainian with 5:3. The Ukrainian advanced to the quarterfinals, where she lost to Sydney Yvon, leaving Ili without a chance for the repechage.

Sydney Yvon (U18, France, -59kg): Sydney Yvon reached the final after a thrilling semifinal match, which she won by referee decision with 0:0. However, she lost in the final to her French opponent with 3:0, securing the silver medal.

Imane Valk (U18, Netherlands, -66kg): Imane Valk started strong, winning her first match against a Slovenian with 7:2. In the next match, she narrowly lost 5:6 against a Turkish opponent, who was also eliminated in the subsequent round, ending Imane's competition.

A Conclusion by Noah Bitsch

Noah Bitsch, head coach of the German national team, summed it up: “The largest and highest quality Youth League is to be rated higher than a European Championship. Here, every small mistake is punished and every won round is a success. Every won medal is like a marathon with at least 6 victories.”

Overall, the WKF Martial Arts Tournament K1 - Youth League in Poreč was a fantastic event that provided unforgettable moments for both athletes and spectators. Once again, Poreč proved to be the perfect host for this prestigious tournament, and we are already looking forward to the next edition!