The karate gold and silver has come to Croatia thanks to the brilliant Kvesić brothers from Karate club Hercegovina-Zagreb. At this year’s European Games in Minsk, Ivan Kvesić won the gold medal while his brother Anđelo Kvesić secured the silver.
On Saturday, Croatian martial artist Ivan Kvesić won the karate gold medal at the European Games in Minsk. The World Champion defeated Turkish martial artist Ugur Aktas in the final of the category up to 84 kilos by the decision of the judges after the fight ended 0-0, reports Fight Site.hr.
Ivan Kvesić achieved three wins in the same number of appearances in his group and as the winner of the group, he secured himself a spot in the semifinal. Kvesić was better than Kosovar Alvin Karaqi 5-0, Montenegrin Nikola Malović 2-0, and Ukrainian Valerii Chobotar 3-0. In the semifinal, he defeated Italian Michele Martina 8-0.
Ivan’s brother, Anđelo Kvesić, lost to Asiman Gurbanli from Azerbaijan with a score of 0-1 in the final of the 84 kilo category to secure the silver.
Anđelo Kvesić also won first place in his group. He defeated Serbian Slobodan Bitević 2-0, then by the decision of the judges, defeated Belarusian Aliaksei Vodchyts, even though the duel ended 2-2, and held 0-0 against Georgian Gogita Arkania, which was enough for both of the fighters to place in the semifinal. In the semifinal, Anđelo Kvesić defeated Jonathan Horne of England with a score of 1-0 and lost to Asiman Gurbanli from Azerbaijan 0-1.
These aren’t the only medals for Croatia at the European Games in Minsk, either. Namely, Croatia has thus far won 8 medals – Croatia’s female athletes Lucija Babić is a gold medalist in sambo, while Barbara Matić won the bronze in Judo.
Tomislav Pucar won the bronze in table tennis, Toni Filipi and Marko Milun secured the bronze in boxing, and Mario Vavro achieved the bronze in shooting.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
