One of the most anticipated events on the continent took place in Bielsko-Biala. We are talking about the European Championship among cadets, juniors and youth under 21. More than 1,200 athletes from 49 countries took part in the competition in Poland.
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After the first Serie A and Premier League tournaments, all eyes were on the young karate talents. In this sense, the championship attracted increased attention, especially given the results of last year’s European Championship in Tbilisi, where France became the leader in the medal count, winning 14 awards, including seven gold. Karatekas from 31 countries won medals in the Georgian capital, so it was interesting to see how many teams would do well at the next continental championship. And the geography of the winners turned out to be even wider – in Bielsko-Biala, karatekas from 33 countries climbed onto the podium.
However, Bielsko-Biała is no stranger to hosting high-level karate events. For 18 years now, the city has been hosting the famous Open European Championship among Polish athletes. In addition, in 2023, Bielsko-Biała will host the European Games, which will write a new and exciting chapter in the history of this sport.
Several karatekas also distinguished themselves at the first continental championship this year. Bao Bednarski Sophie (+68 kg) won the bronze medal in the under 21 category. She started her performance from the second round, won two matches and reached the semi-finals. At this stage she lost to Daniszewska Julia (Poland) by six points. But in the match for bronze, the Swedish karateka won against Fleischer Dora (Hungary) with a comfortable score of 8:0. So, after winning the World Junior Championships in Venice last year, Bao Bednarski Sophie tried on the bronze medal of the European Championships.
McCann Calvin excelled in kata. The Irish representative won a bronze medal in the cadet competition.
Nyman Agnes became the champion of the championship in the junior category. The Swede celebrated victory in the 48 kg weight category among juniors. In the final, she beat Italian Legittimo Ludovica, achieving one of the most significant victories in her career. Last year, Naiman won silver at the World Junior Championships in Venice. In the same Italian city, she won the Youth League stage, and the results indicate that the karateka is on the rise.
Ukrainian athletes also distinguished themselves in Bielsko-Biala. In particular, Baranova Ulyana successfully demonstrated her skills in the junior competition, entering the top three in the weight category up to 66 kg. She won her first three matches and reached the semi-finals, where she lost to Cattaneo Elisa (Italy) by one point. But in the fight for bronze, Baranova was able to defeat Klewarova Marketa (Czech Republic) with a score of 4:0 and climb onto the podium.
Stetsiv Maksym also won a medal. The Ukrainian junior, competing in the 61 kg weight category, won the bronze medal. In the fight for third place, he was stronger than Toth Mate (Hungary) – 3:1.
Italy took first place in the overall standings. Karatekas from this country won 6 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals at the European Championship. Next comes France (6-1-4), and Ukraine (4-3-6) rounded out the top three. The next European Championship in this age group will be held in February 2026 in Larnaca (Cyprus).
EKF Executive Committee Meets During Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships in Bielsko-Biala to Review Progress of Karate.
As Europe’s top young karate athletes are competing in Bielsko-Biala this week, the decision-making body focused on reviewing the state of the sport across the continent. The 2025 EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships, a key moment for youth karate in Europe, provided the perfect backdrop for discussions on the discipline’s future.
Among the key topics on the agenda were the organization’s financial review, reports from EKF commission chairs, and preparations for the upcoming EKF Senior Championships in Yerevan. The committee also discussed the logistics for the EKF Executive Committee elections, which will take place during the event in Armenia.
EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós praised the progress of karate in Europe, stating: “This week in Bielsko-Biala has shown the strength of our sport. The participation, the level of competition, and the enthusiasm of the athletes confirm that karate continues to grow across the continent. We are proud of this success and remain committed to supporting the sport’s development at all levels. We must not be complacent and continue working to further take our sport to new heights.”
“I want to thank Polish Karate Union and its president Pawel Poltorzecki for providing the right conditions to make the event of this week in Bielsko-Biala a huge success,” Mr Espinós added.
With a strong youth presence and key leadership discussions underway, the 2025 EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships continue to highlight the bright future of karate in Europe.
Official YouTube channel of the World Karate Federation (WKF)
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