3rd WORLD UNIVERSITY KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Puebla, Mexico - August 22nd to 25th, 2002
The Mexican city of Puebla was ready to welcome the best student karatekas of the world. On August 18th the first delegations already arrived and all delegations were lodged in three hotels located in the city center, within walking distance of the accreditation office at the Autonomous University of Puebla. On August 21st all kinds of meetings were on the agenda. The day started with the CISCA meeting, which was followed by the first technical meeting of the Championship. In the evening all the student-athletes and officials participating in the WUC were invited by the Municipality of Puebla to participate in the official reception on Zocalo Square.
Opening Ceremony
On August 22nd the 3rd World University Karate Championship was officially opened with the Opening Ceremony. The Ceremony took place at 9 a.m. at the "Gimnasio Ignacio Manuel Altamirano". Some 1,500 people witnessed the event. Speeches were made by Mr. Roberto Outeiriño, FISU Treasurer and Mr. Melquiades Morales Flores, Governor of the state of Puebla. 291 participants from 33 countries were registered.
First Medals
At the end of the first day of competitions some medals were already attributed, namely in the Kata and Kumite men's and women's team competitions. In the Kata competition Venzuela (men) and Spain (women) won the gold medal. In the Kumite competition the gold went to France (men) and Spain (women). On the second day of competitions, August 23rd, the individual fights started. Competitions were held in the following Kumite categories: men's +80kg and -80kg and women's +60kg and -60kg.
Men's Kumite
In the +80kg category Jan Tucek (CZE) beat Gueorguiev Spas (BUL) in the gold medal fight. In the -80kg category it was Ludovic Cacheux (FRA) who defeated Shimizu Ryosuke (JPN).
Women's Kumite
Sara Gribic (YUG) won the gold medal in the +60kg category leaving the silver to Tessy Scholtes (LUX). In the -60kg it was Natalie Williams (GBR) who took the gold from Eva Medvedova. This second day of competitions was dominated by Yugoslavia as its athletes were present on all four podiums. This proves Yugoslavia is putting a lot of effort in to developing the sport. Moreover, let us not forget that the next edition of the World University Karate Championship will be hosted by Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 2004. French athletes were also very highly visible on the podium, taking three medals in 4 categories, proving once more that France is a leading country in karate at the University level. On the third day of competitions, August 24th, the competitions in the individual Kata men's and women's categories were held, as well as the competitions in the individual Kumite men's -70kg and -75kg categories.
Women's Kata
In the women's competition, karatekas from Venezuela, USA, France, Japan, Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic and New Zealand went to the second round, after which the competitors of the USA and France faced their counterparts from Spain and the Czech Republic. The gold quest was settled between Myriam Szkudlarer (FRA) and Miriam Cogolludo (ESP) in favor of the French athlete.
Men's Kata
As in the women's competition the gold and the silver medals also went to France and Spain respectively, as Joel Carpin (FRA) beat Fernando San Jose (ESP).
Men's Kumite
In the -75kg Ivan Leal (ESP) beat Klaudio Farmadin (SVK) winning the gold medal. Omar Garcia (MEX) won the gold medal in the -70kg category beating Nagaky Shinji (JPN).
Cultural Visit
The WUCOC organized a cultural visit for all the participants of the championship and they were taken to the city of Cholula, some 15km away from Puebla. There, they visited the ceremonial center of Cholula, climbed its front side and traveled to the church of 'Nuestra Señora de los remedios'. The participants also witnessed some Aztec dances, showing them an important part of the roots of Mexican culture.
MEDALS
Kata Men's Team
Gold - Venezuela Silver - Japan Bronze - Chinese Taipei Bronze - Czech Republic
Kata Women's Team
Gold - Spain Silver - Poland Bronze - Mexico Bronze - Croatia
Kumite Men's Team
Gold - France Silver - Yugoslavia Bronze - Spain Bronze - Germany
Kumite Women's Team
Gold - Spain Silver - Yugoslavia Bronze - France Bronze - Great Britain
Kumite Men's Individual +80kg
Gold - Jan Tucek (CZE) Silver - Gueorguiev Spas (BUL) Bronze - Frédéric Larroque (FRA) Bronze - Goran Brnovic (YUG)
Kumite Men's Individual -80kg
Gold - Ludovic Cacheux (FRA) Silver - Shimizu Ryosuke (JPN) Bronze - Oscar Martinez (ESP) Bronze - Milos Zivkovic (YUG)
Kumite Men's Individual -75kg
Gold - Ivan Leal (ESP) Silver - Klaudio Farmadin (SVK) Bronze - David Rupert (GER) Bronze - Laurent Capla (FRA)
Kumite Men's Individual -70kg
Gold - Hector Garcia (MEX) Silver - Nagaki Shinji (JPN) Bronze - Ronaldo Rodrigues (BRA) Bronze - Fabrice Larroque (FRA)
Kumite Women's Individual +60kg
Gold - Sara Grbic (YUG) Silver - Tessy Scholtes (LUX) Bronze - Tiffany Fanjat (FRA) Bronze - Gloria Casanova (ESP)
Kumite Women's Individual -60kg
Gold - Natalie Williams (GBR) Silver - Eva Medvedova (SVK) Bronze - Snezana Peric (YUG) Bronze - Carmen Gutierrez (MEX)
Kata Men's Individual
Gold - Joel Carpin (FRA) Silver - Fernando San Jose (ESP) Bronze - Yamamoto Kazutaka (JPN) Bronze - Antonio Diaz (VEN)
Kata Women's Individual
Gold - Myriam Szukudlarer (FRA) Silver - Miriam Cogolludo (ESP) Bronze - Mooroka Nao (JPN) Bronze - Petra Nova (CZE)
WEBSITE
You can find the website of the WUCOC at http://www.buap.mx/eventos/karate.
PARTICIPATION
293 participants representing 33 countries.
