Japan, Iran the big winners in Asian Karate Youth tournament in Manila

Japan and Iran emerged as the top nations in the recently-concluded  22nd Asian Cadet, Juniors, and Under-21 Karate Championships last weekend at the PhilSports Arena.

Japan amassed a total of 16 golds in 38 categories across kata and kumite while also bagging one silver and five bronze medals as it became the best performing nation among the 28 participating countries.

Japan ruled the cadet kata in both genders while also winning the cadet kumite female -54kg and the -70kg and 70+ kg divisions of cadet kata male.

It also reigned supreme in the junior kata female, junior kata male, junior kumite female -48kg, junior kumite female -53kg, junior kumite female -59kg, junior kumite female -66kg, and junior kumite male -61.

In the group events, Japan also starred by dominating the kata team cadet & junior female and the kata team cadet & junior male. Completing its gold medal haul are their championships in U21 kata female and U21 kumite female -50.

Iran was also impressive in the three-day tournament, winning 10 gold medals alongside three silvers and 10 bronze medals while Kazakhstan tallied four gold plums.

The Philippines, meanwhile, bagged a total of three medals with Ailec Servan finishing second in the cadet kumite female -54kg while Sebastian Manalac and Julia Bintulan claimed bronze in the cadet kata male and junior kata female.

READ MORE | Filipino karatekas shine on opening day of 22nd Asian Karate Youth tilt

The Philippines fielded 33 athletes made up of 19 males and 14 females.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News