Salzburg karate tournament draws 1,276 athletes from 82 nations

Salzburg’s biggest karate tournament is bringing 1,276 athletes from 82 nations to the Alpenstraße sports hall this weekend, ORF reports. A small group of competitors are from Salzburg, including rising athletes coached by former world champion Alisa Buchinger.

Ten years after Buchinger won the world title, she is coaching young karatekas who could follow in her footsteps. One is 18-year-old Ceylin Cetin, from Salzburg city, who became Austrian champion last year after defeating former European silver medallist Lejla Topalovic.

Cetin said she still had a long way to go after her first competition in the senior category. She described Buchinger as her role model for both her mentality and discipline.

Buchinger won gold at the 2016 World Championships in Linz and remains Austria’s only karate world champion. Another promising athlete from Salzburg is Marina Vukovic, from Saalfelden.

Austria’s karate federation sports director, Christian Grüner, said international competition experience was essential. He said athletes travelled worldwide to compete in World Cup and Youth League events.

The tournament will move to Vienna’s Ferry-Dusika-Halle in 2027 because a dance competition is scheduled at the Alpenstraße sports hall at the same time. A later return to Salzburg is uncertain.