PUNOK Youth League in Poreč

Sun, Heat and Heroism: Young Karate Talents Impress in Croatia!

Poreč – a picturesque coastal town on the Adriatic, known for its stunning beaches – became the hot stage of international youth karate for five days. With temperatures soaring above 30 degrees, sweat on their brows and blazing sunshine, around 4,000 young athletes from all over the world fought for glory, honour – and of course, medals.

The spectacle kicked off on Wednesday with the youngest in the U12 category. And as the thermometer climbed, so did the level of competition. From Thursday onwards, it got serious for the older categories – especially the U21, where a determined French athlete caused a stir.

Sydney Yvon – Silver with Heart

French fighter Sydney Yvon delivered an impressive performance in the U21 category: round after round, she battled her way through a top-class international field – with precision, elegance and sheer determination. In the final, she faced a local favourite from Croatia. The match? A thriller on the tatami. In the end, Yvon narrowly missed gold. But silver shines too – especially when earned with such heart.

Golden Glory in the U14 – Valentina Grüner Triumphs

Then came Sunday – and with it, a golden chapter for German karate youth:
14-year-old Valentina Grüner (Sen5 Karate) stormed through the U14 category (-47 kg) in sweltering heat like a whirlwind. Tactically brilliant, fiercely competitive – she defeated opponents from France, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria and Croatia.

The final? Pure tension. A strong opponent from Latvia demanded everything from Valentina, but the young fighter kept her cool. With a 4:2 win, she secured the gold medal – crowning not only her tournament performance but also the biggest success of her young career so far.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our athletes achieved here,” cheered coach Christian Grüner. “With results like these, we can look forward to the next season with confidence.”

Debut with Impact – Bronze for Jana Haas

But that wasn't the only sensation:
Jana Haas, a rising star from Champions Karate Club, took part in her very first Youth League in Poreč – and went straight for bronze!

She confidently defeated fighters from Belgium, England and Romania before narrowly losing 5:6 in a tense match against eventual finalist Nola Kadic (Croatia). In the repechage round, she recalled the words of her brother and coach Florian Haas: “If you want the medal more than your opponent – you’ll win it.”

And so she did: With steely resolve, Jana first defeated a strong Czech athlete 2:0 and then shone in the bronze medal match against Kosovo’s Danina Rexhepi with a clever 3:1 – a perfect start to her karate career.

The Youth League in Poreč was more than just a tournament – it was a melting pot of passion, discipline and youthful fighting spirit. Between Mediterranean holiday charm and intense competition, talents like Valentina Grüner, Sydney Yvon and Jana Haas created goosebump moments and proved: the future of karate is bright – and it starts now.