Catarina Dias, the skilled Portuguese fighter, made a huge splash this Wednesday at the World Games. Competing in Chengdu, China, she secured at least a silver medal in kickboxing’s -70 kg division. Her powerful performance guarantees Portugal a spot on the podium.
Dias fought her way through the semi-finals, facing Indonesia’s Hergie Bacyadan. She clinched the victory with a 2-1 score. Her final fight is set for Thursday, and the anticipation is building.
This trip to the final marks the best result for Portuguese kickboxing at these games so far. Other Portuguese kickboxers also showed their grit earlier in the week. Sofia Oliveira finished fifth in the -60 kg category. Iúri Fernandes also secured a fifth-place spot in the +91 kg division on Tuesday.
Beyond the kickboxing ring, Portugal also had athletes competing in speed skating today. António Freitas participated in the 100-meter sprint on the road. He placed third in his heat, which gave him the 15th overall time, but only the top nine moved to the semi-finals. In the 15,000-meter elimination race on the road, Miguel Bravo finished in 12th place.
Portugal’s overall medal count at the World Games has been quite impressive. After seven days of competition, the country boasts two gold medals, three silvers, and four bronze medals.
Here’s a quick look at who’s bringing home the hardware:
- Diana Gago earned gold in double mini-trampoline.
- Gabriel Albuquerque and Lucas Santos took gold in synchronized trampoline.
- Lara Fernandes and Guilherme Henriques secured silver in acrobatic gymnastics.
- Pedro Ramalho won silver in ju-jitsu.
- The beach handball team also clinched a silver medal.
- Canoeist José Ramalho contributed two bronze medals.
- Beatriz Carneiro and Inês Faria earned bronze in acrobatic gymnastics.
- Miguel Lopes and Gonçalo Parreira added another bronze in acrobatic gymnastics.
The 12th edition of the World Games started last Thursday and runs through Sunday. These games bring together various non-Olympic sports and disciplines. However, the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, officially recognizes all of them.