102 medals, of which 35 gold, 21 silver and 46 bronze, were won by Turkmen athletes at the 12th Shotokan Karate World Championship that ended in Pardubice (Czech Republic). It was reported by the electronic newspaper “Golden Age” with the reference to “FKT”.

The competition brought together karatekas from 31 countries, who over the course of three days played 246 sets of awards in the disciplines of kata (exercises demonstration - fight with an invisible opponent) and kumite (combat sparring) in different age and weight categories.

As per the updated data, on the first day of the competition, our compatriots won four gold medals, on the second day - 19 gold, 8 silver and 15 bronze medals, and on the third day - 12 awards of the highest standard, 13 silver and 31 bronze medals. This allowed the team of Turkmenistan to take third place in the medal standings, leaving behind the karatekas of Romania (43 gold, 53 silver and 76 bronze) and the Czech Republic (44 gold, 49 silver and 93 bronze medals).

Ovezmyrat Sapadurdyev and Allanur Yalkabov, who became the absolute world champions in Shotokan karate in their age categories and received the “Grand Champion” belt made a significant impact to the success of Turkmenistan team.

Ovezmyrat Sapadurdyev achieved this success among teenagers 10-11 years old, having won a total of four gold medals in combat sparring - Shobu Ippon Kumite, Shobu Sanbon Kumite, VKF Kumite in the weight category up to 30 kg and in the discipline of Shobu Ippon Kumite in the open weight category.

Allanur Yalkabov has 6 gold medals. He won four awards of the highest standard among cadets 12-13 years old in personal kata and sparring - Shobu Ippon Kumite, Shobu Sanbon Kumite, VKF Kumite in weight up to 38 kg and two gold medals in team kumite together with Perhat Atamyradov and Gurbannazar Amandurdiev and team kata among cadets aged 14-15 together with Perhat Atamyradov and Davut Sariyev.

Ovezmyrat Sapardurdyev is engaged in karate under the guidance of his father Sapadurdy Setdarov, the coach of the national team of Turkmenistan, the owner of the 3rd dan black belt. And Allanur Yalkabov improves his skills - with Aydin Charyev - the owner of the 5th dan black belt.