Turkey wins 9 medals in Canada karate tournament

By Halil Ibrahim Avsar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey won nine medals in a world-class karate tournament in Canada, the Turkish Karate Federation said on Monday.

Turkish athletes claimed nine medals -- including three gold -- in Karate1 Series A tournament hosted by the Francophone city of Montreal in east Canada last weekend, Turkish federation told Anadolu Agency.

Turkey was represented by 13 men and seven women karate athletes as the team won three gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

In 84-kilogram males, Ugur Aktas beat his Italian opponent Michele Martina 3-0 in final to win gold medal in the tournament's kumite category.

Alparslan Yamanoglu, other Turkish male karate athlete competing in 84+ kilograms in kumite, claimed a gold medal in Montreal. Yamanoglu won against Canadian Daniel Gaysinsky 2-1 in final to be the champion.

Additionally, Turkey men's team in Karate kata category has become champion.

Turkey's Ali Sofuoglu, Emre Vefa Goktas and Enes Ozdemir beat Peru in the final in kata.

The Karate 1 Series A was held in Montreal between June 21 and 23 as a number of 760 athletes from 79 countries joined this competition.