2026 Karate One-Youth League:
Iranians impress with three medals in Fujairah
Iran’s rising karate talents claimed three medals, including one gold, on the second day of action at the opening Karate One Youth League event of the season in Fujairah.
Ghazal Fathi Cheshmeh led the charge on Friday, capturing gold in the junior female kumite -48kg division. She edged past Egypt’s Noor Abdelaziz 1-0 in a tightly contested final, with a single clean score proving decisive.
In the junior male -76kg category, Arash Razani bounced back from a third-round 2-0 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Kobilov. Razani progressed through the repechage rounds with victories over opponents from Armenia and Türkiye before sealing a 4-0 win against Italy’s Nicola Esposito to secure a bronze medal.
Compatriots Amirsam Zeinali and Amirreza Kaki also competed in the same division but were eliminated in the pool phase.
Iran’s second bronze came in the men’s individual kata competition through Arash Alhaki. Alhaki advanced with victories over competitors from Egypt, Italy, Hong Kong, Portugal, and Saudi Arabia before falling 4-1 to Japan’s Takamasa Yatoji. He concluded his campaign with a 3-2 triumph against Germany’s Haruaki Kuniyasu to clinch bronze.