Chengdu 2025 World Games:
Abazari bags bronze as Iran finishes with double karate medals
Saleh Abazari settled for a kumite bronze as Iran finished with double karate medals at The World Games in Chengdu, China.
Representing the country in the men’s +84kg category, Abazari began his campaign with a 4-3 victory over American Eddie Sagilyan but fell to a 3-2 defeat against the host’s Zhai Ang before sharing the spoils with Taha Mahmoud (2-2) to stand second to the Egyptian in the Pool B table and progress to the semifinals.
Former Asian champion Abazari suffered a 4-0 setback against Ukraine’s Ryzvan Talibov in the last four but still bounced back to come out victorious (6-4) in a rematch against Mahmoud in the third-place bout and win a consolation bronze.
“Thank God I had a decent performance in the third-place bout. I had beaten the Egyptian opponent several times before. He is the number one of the class in the world rankings, and I had to work hard to overcome a three-point deficit and beat him. I just want to dedicate this medal to my fellow Iranians,” Abazari said after his victory over Mahmoud.
“Saleh had a major finger injury before the Games but refused to undergo surgery,” Iran head coach Shahram Heravi said, adding, “He truly deserved to win the gold here and I am sure he will shine again in the future tournaments.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, reigning Asian champion Atousa Golshadnejad was left empty-handed in the women’s -61kg class following a 5-0 loss to Noursin Ali of Egypt.
Golshadnejad had beaten the Egyptian fighter 2-1 earlier in the day, before victories over Laura Sivert (3-0) of France and Kazakhstan’s Assel Kanay (3-2) saw the Iranian girl finish atop the Pool B standings.
However, Golshadnejad was undone (2-1) by Japanese Sarara Shimada in the semifinals before the third-place defeat against Ali.
Sara Bahmanyar had won a first medal for Iran in the kumite contests on the preceding night in Chengdu, defeating some high-profile karatekas – including reigning world champion Moldir Zhangbyrbay of Kazakhstan in the final – to walk away with the ultimate prize in the women’s -50kg event.
Former world bronze medalist Bahmanyar opened her account with a 4-0 victory over back-to-back European champion Ema Sgardelli of Croatia and then edged past against Canada’s Yamina Lahyanssa (5-4) and outclassed Italian world silver medalist Erminia Perfetto (11-3) to progress to the last four as the Pool A winner.
The Iranian girl defeated two-time African gold medalist Cylia Ouikene 4-3 for a place in the final showpiece, and was then awarded the win against Zhangbyrbay by hantei (judges’ decision) after it finished scoreless.