Marko Džorlev crowned world karate champion
The Shtip-born athlete beat Adam Vagi 4:1 in the final at the World Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland.
Marko Džorlev won the gold medal and the world title at the World Championships for cadets, juniors and U-21 held in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, delivering one of the brightest moments in North Macedonian karate history.
Decisive final and a string of tough wins
The Shtip native defeated Adam Vagi of Hungary 4:1 in the final to secure the championship. Earlier in the competition he eliminated Alejandro Perez (Cuba), Jose Andres Garcia (Guyana), Leons Akopovs (Latvia) and Jan Mata (Panama).
Džorlev had already taken gold this year at the World Youth League event in Poreč and currently tops the World Karate Federation (WKF) ranking for his category.
Another North Macedonian competitor, Redjep Rushiti (-84 kg) in the U-21 division, will contest a bronze-medal match tomorrow.
The World Championships feature 2,022 karateka with 1,970 competitor entries from 114 countries.
The victory in Poland marks a historic achievement for Džorlev and a moment of national pride for Shtip and North Macedonia's karate community.
Photo: press material from the event
