Vitaly Spynu on the top step of the podium // Photo: facebook.com
The Spinu couple brought seven medals of different values to the Moldovan national team. Vitalii, who competed in the 80 kg weight category, won a gold medal in the individual kumite in the “shobu ippon” discipline. The victory in the competition allowed the 31-year-old native of Balti to become a 13-time world champion. He also won two silver medals in the shobu sanbon and in the all-around individual event.
His wife Anastasia won four medals, but she did not win the top medal this time. She became the second in individual kumite in the discipline “Shobu Sanbon” (weight category up to 58 kg) and in the absolute individual classification. Bronze medals were brought to her by her successful performances in the Shobu Ippon discipline and in the masters competition (individual kata and kumite).
Moldovan juniors also performed successfully. Ion Kerdivara, represented in the weight category up to 70 kg, became the world champion in individual kumite in the discipline “shobu sanbon” among athletes under 15 years old. His teammate Alina Tsugui in the weight category over 58 kg became the world champion in individual kumite in the discipline “shobu sanbon / shobu ippon” among athletes under 17 years old. She also reached the podium in the Shobu Ippon event and became a silver medalist.
Shotokan is one of the main styles of Japanese karate and is considered to be the most academic sport. It became an Olympic sport in Tokyo in 2021, and was not included in the program of the next two Olympics – in Paris and Los Angeles.
