Croatia karatekas win 11 medals at Balkan Championships

Members of Croatia's senior karate team won 11 medals, including four golds, at the Balkan Championships held in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croatian Karate Federation said.

Anđelo Kvesić (+84 kg), Ema Sgardelli (-50 kg), Sadea Bećirović (-68 kg) and Nikolina Golomboš (+68 kg) captured gold medals after winning all their bouts, CE Report quotes HINA.

The Croatian men's team won silver in the team kumite event, with Adrian Stančić, Matej Budiščak, Toma Mileta, Dominik Šonje, Ivan Pehar, Dino Šimunec and Ivan Terihaj in the line-up. Individual silver medals were won by Enes Garibović (+84 kg), Iskra Majsec (-50 kg), Patricija Prga (-55 kg) and Darija Šnajder (-61 kg).

Bronze medals went to Jelena Pehar (-55 kg) and Lucija Lesjak (+68 kg).

In the veterans' competition, Croatian representatives added five more medals. Željo Perković won one gold and one silver, Mirko Banović claimed silver, while Igor Ljubanski and Ivan Ivandić each took bronze.

A total of 313 competitors from 11 countries took part in the championships in Banja Luka.

foto Zvonko Kucelin