The 14th World Karate Championships for Cadets, Juniors & Under 21 were held in Bielsko-Biała, Poland. One of the most prestigious events on the World Karate Federation’s international calendar, the championships brought together athletes from 114 nations, confirming the extraordinarily high technical and competitive standard of the event.
The San Marino Martial Arts Federation (Federazione Sammarinese Arti Marziali, FESAM) took part in the competition with two athletes in the Under 21 category: Denise Bertozzi in kata and Rebecca Gaidella in kumite -55kg, accompanied by coach Alessio Magnelli.
Denise Bertozzi faced a high-level competition, managing to win her first-round bout against Ireland’s Melaadi Mariam Curley 5-0. Her run ended in the following match against Croatia’s Katia Segavic, though she showed strong technical quality, focus and the ability to hold her own against some of the best in the world.
Equally meaningful was the performance of Rebecca Gaidella, who, despite carrying an injury, chose to step onto the tatami regardless. It was a decision that speaks to the determination, courage and sense of sporting responsibility that define athletes competing in karate at the highest level.
During the event, the World Karate Federation also held its Congress, which included elections for the Executive Committee. Davide Benetello, representing the Italian federation FIJLKAM, was elected WKF vice-president. The Congress also saw the presentation of the upcoming Senior World Championships, which will be held in Bergamo.
At the close of the event, FESAM president Maurizio Mazza commented: “Competing at a World Championship with 114 nations present means measuring yourself against the very best karate has to offer worldwide. Denise showed great resilience throughout her bout, earning her way past the first round and testing herself in a context of remarkable technical value. I also want to highlight Rebecca’s attitude, which reflected real dedication and a deep, inspiring commitment to the sport. At the same time, our athletes’ health remains a priority, and every decision must be guided above all by the utmost care for their wellbeing,” he continued. “We are now turning our attention to the world qualifiers in Tangier, where FESAM will compete with the goal of continuing to represent San Marino at the highest levels. We arrived in Poland after an intense period of competitive commitments, but our journey doesn’t stop here: we will keep working to grow, gain experience, and strengthen our national team’s presence in the most prestigious competitions.”
The San Marino delegation’s next international outing will be the Hungarian Open Grand Prix in Budapest, scheduled for mid-November, where the federation’s youth athletes will once again test themselves against top-level opposition.
