Penza, 4 April 2016. PenzaNews. The Penza region karate team has won the third place in the team event of the Russian countrywide Ak Bars Cup held in Kazan.

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A total of 39 karatekas represented the region at the event.

“Junior boys and girls were competing on the first day. The youngest athlete for Penza, Danila Sotnikov, earned the first place in the 8-9 age group. Elizaveta Litynskaya was the best among the girls aged 10-11. Gennady Krivtsov and Margarita Mescheryakova had no competition in age 12-13. Alexander Sisini and Damir Yanbikov won second places,” the press service of the Ministry of Physical Education and Sports of the Penza region informed PenzaNews.

On the second day, Vadim Mescheryakov won the gold medal in the adult competition, along with reaching a qualifying standard for the Master of Sports status, they added.

“Vladislav Taldykin, Anastasia Potemina, Victoria Galkina, Guzel Kozyreva and Regina Shabaeva earned second places in their age groups. Ruslan Volk was third among men aged 16-17,” the Sports Ministry said.

The competition also featured a seminar that resulted in two Penza arbiters getting a judge status, the press service added.

“The tournament held on April 2-3 brought together 1,275 athletes aged 8-25 from 34 Russian regions,” the Ministry clarified.