The World United Karate Federation (WUKF) organized the XIII European Karate Championship in Antibes, France from November 15-19. A 25-member Georgian karateka delegation competed among 3000 athletes representing 30 European countries. The Georgian athletes were successful at the European Championship. They won a total 13 medals, including 6 gold, 1 bronze, and 1 silver.
At the European Championship, Luka Khvedeliani won gold in the team kumite category for absolute weight. Chabuka Makharadze, Avto Giuniashvili, and Tato Samkharadze also won gold. The Georgian team won the match convincingly, defeating the teams of Italy and Romania in all rounds, and Denmark and England on the other side.
Tato Samkharadze, in addition to winning the first place for the team in kumite in kumite discipline, won a gold and silver medals in the individual weight category in kumite. Chabuka Makharadze, in the kata discipline, won a bronze among seniors.
At the European Championships, Tamar Tsintsadze (U11) won a gold in the individual kumite for girls. Luka Shantadze (U17) and Davit Guloyan also won gold in the absolute weight categories. Irakli Gongadze took home another gold in the combat between veteran kumite.
Bronze medals went to Merab Lomadze, (U17), in the absolute kumite category, Davit Gulyani, in the absolute kumite category between 16-17 years of age, Mate Dziganadze, (U17,-55 kg), Ioane Chumbadze, (U9,-40 kg), and Theona Aramishvili, (U11,-35 kg).
Chabuka Makharadze is a Shotokan karate-do five-time European and four-time world champion.
“Since 2009 I have been participating in European, World Championships, and international tournaments organized the World United Karate Federation. I have won medals of every type: gold, bronze, and silver.” Liviu Crisan is the President of the World United Karate Federation, and the owner of X knife. He has a lot of influence and authority today in karate.
The 2023 European Championship in Antibes, France was run under the rules and organization of WUKF to very high standards. The team that wins kumite in the championships has a huge advantage.
“At the European Championships in Antibes we defeated the Italian national team, Romanian national team and English in a row, in the committee of the team, which included Luka Kvedeliani, Tato Smkharadze and Avto Giuniashvili with me,” Makharadze said.
“In addition to team kumite I also participated in the senior cat class, completing three laps with a good score. In the final, Simone Otanavi, an Italian, took first place, Slava Martn, a Czech, took second place, and me, a third-placed athlete with a bronze, took the third place.
“I always strive to compete well in all championships, and to represent our country with dignity. This is a huge responsibility and a big motivation. It makes me happy to stand on the podium with the Georgian flag flying,” he concluded.
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