The Karate competition of the 2019 European Games is only one week to go, and fans of the sport will be looking forward to one of the most anticipated events of the year. The best European karatekas will fight for the gold medals and for the domination of the sport in the continent. 

The Karate competition of the 2019 European Games is only one week to go, and fans of the sport will be looking forward to one of the most anticipated events of the year. The best European karatekas will fight for the gold medals and for the domination of the sport in the continent. 

“I am very happy to participate in the European Games in Minsk, and I just want to win the gold medal there,” said Sandra Sanchez of Spain. The defending title-holder in Female Kata is one of the stars to watch in Minsk and one of the front-runners in the quest to top the medal table of the event.  

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No less than 38 countries will be represented in the Karate competition of the 2019 European Games in Minsk. This tally represents an increase with the first edition of the event four years ago since representatives of 36 nations competed for gold in Baku 2015.

In addition to crowning the new heroes of European Karate, the European Games in Minsk will put the spotlight on the powerhouse nations of the continent aiming to become the biggest force of the sport in Europe. 

“For me, it was a big surprise to qualify for the European Game. It is amazing that I will be there, representing my country, in the last European Games before the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It is unbelievable that I will be one of the eight competitors in my category,” said Spain’s Laura Palacio.  

“I am two-time silver medallist at the European Championships but I think it is my time to win a gold medal. In Minsk I will participate in the European Games for the first time and I just want to continue my progression there,” said upcoming karateka Ali Sofuoglu of Turkey. 

In Baku 2015, Azerbaijan topped the Karate medal table with six medals and four golds. Five-time World champion Rafael Aghayev, current World title-holder Irina Zaretska, together with Firdovsi Farzaliyev and Aykhan Mamayev were the gold medallists for the host nation in Baku. Turkish representatives also took the spotlight in Baku with nine medals and three golds while France and Spain claimed two golds respectively. 

Now, one of the big questions in Minsk 2019 is which nation will come on top. Spain finished in the first place of the medal table of the last two editions of European Championships which were held in Guadalajara (Spain) and in Novi Sad (Serbia) while Turkey topped the medal table of the 2017 European Championships in Kocaeli (Turkey). 

Hosts of Belarus present the largest delegation in Minsk with 12 karatekas, followed by Turkey with 11 athletes and Azerbaijan, Italy and France all of them with seven representatives.     

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