Spain topped the medal table of the Karate competition at the 2023 Mediterranean Beach Games being held in Heraklion (Greece). The two gold medals of the Karate Kata event at the Karteros Beach Sports Centre were claimed by the Iberian powerhouse nation of the sport.
Over 40 competitors from 13 Mediterranean countries participated in the Karate Kata competition. The crown in Female Kata went to Spain’s Paola Garcia Lozano. The Spanish karateka, who is the current Senior and Junior continental champion and European Games gold medallist, defeated Italy’s Orsola D’Onofrio in the final, with scores of 25.90 to 24.80.
Morocco’s Sanae Agalman and Greece’s Georgia Archontia Xenou completed the podium in Female Kata.
The Male Kata event concluded with a major upset as promising karateka Raul Martin Romero from Spain took the gold medal. A two-time U21 continental championships medallist, Martin Romero won his first title in senior competitions following a convincing victory over Morocco’s Salah Eddine El Mansoury, with scores of 25.20 to 24.40.
Olympian and big favourite Damian Quintero of Spain and Italy’s Guido Polsinelli claimed the bronze medals.
Source: WKF