Palestine’s Maryam Bsharat wins back-to-back world karate titles with Poland gold

Maryam Bsharat retained her world karate title on Saturday, winning the under-66kg kumite gold at the World Cadet, Junior and Under-21 Championships in Bielsko-Biala, Poland.

She beat Spain’s Noa Lopez Gonzalez 3-1 in the final, a back-to-back world title for the Palestinian athlete.

Bsharat reached the gold-medal bout by beating her Japanese opponent, with one outlet reporting a narrow 7-6 scoreline.

The tight win sent her through a demanding bracket before she took control of the final against the Spanish fighter.

She now heads the World Karate Federation rankings in the junior women’s under-66kg category. The latest triumph adds to a consistent record at world and Asian championships and on the Karate 1-Youth League circuit.

Members of the Palestinian community in Poland attended the final to cheer her on.

Their president, Dr Muhammad Saleh, said Palestine’s participation in the championship was a source of pride for the community in Poland, across Europe and around the world.