2025 Karate 1-Series A:
Iranians continue impressive run with five more medals
Iranians kept up the momentum on the second day of the opening Karate 1-Series A event by grabbing five more medals – including a couple of golds – in Tbilisi, Georgia.
On Saturday, former world bronze medalist Sara Bahmanyar came out on top against Turkish girl Rabia Çaliş for the top prize in the women’s kumite -50kg contests.
Joining Bahmanyar on the podium was fellow-Iranian Yalda Naqi-Beiranvand, who bounced back from a last-four setback against the Turkish opponent to beat Tiphaine Bonnarde of France for a joint-bronze alongside Ukrainian Daria Pylypiuk.
Iranians won a fourth gold medal in the Georgian capital through Morteza Karimi, who defeated Zholaman Bigabyl of Kazakhstan in the final showpiece of the men’s -60kg contests.
There was further glory for the country in the team kata events, as the Iranian male tiro of Abolfazl Shahrjerdi, Milad Farazmehr, and Ali Zand was joined by the Iranian girls’ team – comprising Sepideh Amini, Melika Ezzati, and Zeinab Hosseini – in taking the bronze medals of their respective categories.
Saturday’s triumphs came after Iranians had bagged double gold medals and a silver on the preceding night in Tbilisi.
Four-time Asian bronze medalist Fatemeh Sadeqi defeated Lo Sum Man of Hong Kong (41.4-40) to walk away with the ultimate prize in the women’s kata event, while an all-Iranian final saw Mahmoud Ne’mati overcome Mohsen Safarnejad for the gold medal in the men’s kumite +84kg weight class.
More than 1100 karatekas from 87 countries took part in the three-day opening event of the international karate season.
The Karate 1-Series A will be back in Larnaca, Cyprus, on February 14, with Salzburg and Kuala Lumpur also hosting the series throughout the season.