Ilias Psomas was crowned the World Karate Championship for Teenagers, Juniors, Youth and U21 of +70k teenagers in Iconium (Ἰκόνιον, Turkish: Konya), Turkey. However, even receiving his medal was without controversy.
The dream course of Ilias Psomas ended on Saturday after defeating the Estonian, Saveli Bolotski 8-0.
After collecting the medal on the podium, the Turks stopped playing the Greek national anthem. None-the-less, members of the Greek delegation continued to sing it, as seen in the video!
The Cadet categories are completed! Meet the new World champions in Cadet divisions!
CADET KUMITE MALE -70K: 🥇Alikhan Kadyrgali 🇰🇿
CADET KUMITE MALE 70K: 🥇Ilias Psomas 🇬🇷#Karate 🥋 #KarateKonya2022 #KarateForLife pic.twitter.com/sLy4a6IJuG
— World Karate Federation 🥋 (@worldkarate_wkf) October 29, 2022
On his way to victory, Psomas defeated the Latvian Kazantsevs, the Turkish Celik, the Tunisian Gazouani, won the first place in the pool in which he participated and then in the semi-final he defeated the Ukrainian Pereundas 2-0.
Thus, within a few months, Psomas won his second medal in a major event as he had previously won bronze at the European Championships in Prague, in the same category, last June.
After his new, even greater, success, the 15-year-old world champion said: "I worked very hard all this time and always had my teacher Dimitris Triantaphyllis by my side. Together we reached the top of the world.
"I dedicate the gold medal to my parents, who have been running me around the fields and training since I was a small child.
"Of course to my teacher, my teammates, but also to our federation, which provides us with every resource to achieve our goal. When I return to Greece the first thing I will do is hug my parents and friends who will be waiting for me at the airport and from Monday I will start training again."
READ MORE: TURKEY: Greek national anthem cut halfway at the World Arm Wrestling Championships in Antalya.
