The city of Oran in Algeria hosts the 19^th edition of the Mediterranean Games. The Karate competition is scheduled from June 26 to 27.

Over 3000 athletes from 26 Mediterranean Games are set to participate in the 24 sports to be included in the multi-sport event. Karate, with its discipline of Kumite, returns to the sports programme of the event thus confirming its position in all the multi-sport events of the Olympic cycle.

Many of the top karatekas from Mediterranean countries have confirmed their participation in the event so the high level of the competition is guaranteed.

The last edition of the Mediterranean Games was held in Tarragona (Spain) in 2018. Turkey topped the medal table of the Karate competition with seven medals including two golds. France and Italy also registered successful performances with four and five medals respectively.

Olympian Silvia Semeraro of Italy, Algeria’s Hocine Daikhi and Turkey’s Erman Eltemur and Tuba Yakan were among the gold medallist in Tarragona 2019.

Source: https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/mediterranean-games-show-strength-of-karate-in-the-region/1973

Algeria registered a successful performance on day 1 of Karate at the Mediterranean Games with four gold medals.

Cylia Ouikene opened the gold medal count for Algeria in Female Kumite -50kg. The current continental champion defeated Reem Salama of Egypt in the final 5-0.

The second gold for Algeria came in Female Kumite -55kg as Louiza Abouriche claimed the title of the category following a 4-1 victory over World and continental champion Ahlam Youssef of Egypt.

The domination of Algeria continued in Female Kumite -61kg. Chaima Midi added the third gold for the powerhouse nation since the current continental bronze medallist beat Tunisia’s Wafa Mahjoub in the final 3-2.

The golden day for Algeria was completed in Male Kumite -75kg. Oussama Zaid starred in one of the big upsets of the day after surprising Olympian and World Championships runner-up Abdalla Abdelaziz of Egypt 5-4

more: https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/algerian-karatekas-lead-way-to-medals-on-day-1-of-mediterranean-games/1975

Olympic Games gold medallist Feryal Abdelaziz of Egypt used her status as Olympic champion to add the title in the Mediterranean Games to her ample list of honours. The Egyptian karateka who is a three-time continental medallist defeated Olympian Silvia Semeraro of Italy 2-0 in the “Clash of Titans” of the day to win the crown in Female Kumite -68kg.

Egypt finished the day with two golds as Youssef Badawy claimed the title in Male Kumite -84kg. The current World champion and UFAK Championships runner-up beat Vladimir Brezancic of Serbia in the thrilling final of the category 6-4.

more: https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/two-golds-for-egypt-on-final-day-of-karate-at-mediterranean-games/1976

MEDAL STATISTIC – COUNTRY

RANK	COUNTRY		GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	Total
1	EGYPT	EGY	22	12	26	60
2	ITALY	ITA	7	4	4	15
3	GREECE	GRE	3	7	15	25
4	CYPRUS	CYP	3	5	14	22
5	MOROCCO	MAR	3	4	9	16
6	HUNGARY	HUN	1	3	3	7
7	FRANCE	FRA	1	2	4	7
8	TUNISIA	TUN	0	1	1	2
	SERBIA	SRB	0	1	1	2
	PORTUGAL	POR	0	1	1	2

Cyprus hosted the 28^th edition of the Mediterranean Karate Championships this past week.

On the eve of the historic event, the Executive Committee and Congress of the Mediterranean Karate Federations Union (MKFU) gathered to celebrate the progress of Karate in the region.

Headed by WKF Vice President and MKFU President Bechir Cherif and hosted by the Cyprus Karate Federation President Andreas Vasileiou the meetings recognised the efforts of the National Federations of the Mediterranean countries to organise first-class events in the area.

Nearly 500 athletes from 13 countries gathered in Cyprus this past weekend to clash for the titles of the most-attended edition of the Mediterranean Karate Championships.

The participation records were acknowledged at the opening press conference, as never before such a high number of attendees had competed at the event. The member of the Cypriot Parliament Fotini Tsirides, and the representative of the Cyprus Olympic Committee Odysseas Patsallides, as well as WKF Executive Committee member Davide Benetello, and WKF Referee Commission members Giuseppe Zaccaro and Zitouny Meyout participated in the press conference.

Olympic Games medallists Viviana Bottaro of Italy, Steven Dacosta of France and Feryal Abdelaziz of Egypt also attended the opening press conference.             

WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“The success of the Mediterranean Karate Championships shows the outstanding work of the Mediterranean Karate Federations Union and especially the remarkable contribution of MKFU President Bechir Cherif. His leadership has been essential to the progress of the sport in the region. 

“My heartfelt congratulations to all the members of the MKFU and to the organisers of the event for the accomplishment.”

(Top picture: From left to right: WKF Executive Committee member and Italian Karate Federation President Davide Benetello, WKF Vice President and MKFU President Bechir Cherif, Cyprus Karate Federation President and MKFU General Secretary Andreas Vasileiou, Cypriot Parliament member Fotini Tsirides, Chief Referee and member of WKF Referee Commission Guiseppe Zaccaro, Cyprus Olympic Committee representative Odysseas Patsallides, and Technical Director and member of WKF Referee Commission Zitouny Meyout).

more on https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/mediterranean-karate-federations-union-celebrate-key-meetings-ahead-of-momentous-event/1722