Portugal’s kickboxing squad is navigating a challenging World Championship in Abu Dhabi, with a single victory overshadowed by multiple defeats on the second day, yet retaining hopes for medals in upcoming bouts.
On the second day of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) championships, Portuguese athletes secured one win across six fights.
Sofia Oliveira delivered the team’s sole triumph, defeating Canada’s Ashleigh Bartelds. This victory keeps Oliveira’s medal prospects alive in the K1 -60kg category.
The team faced stiff competition, with Rúben Amorim losing to Kazakhstan’s Ganza Timur, the second seed in the -81kg Full Contact division. Amorim was defeated 3-0 in a closely contested match.
National coach Raúl Lemos acknowledged the high level of the tournament. He highlighted Oliveira’s “clear triumph” but stressed the valuable experience gained by the other fighters, particularly newcomers.
“This type of championship is very demanding; the level is very high,” Lemos stated. He noted that some losses came against athletes expected to reach the finals, indicating tough draws.
Lemos cited another instance where a Portuguese fighter, Hilário, lost only 10 seconds from the end of his fight. Hilário had been leading but succumbed to low kicks.
The coach advised defeated athletes to maintain focus and determination. He encouraged them to train internationally and participate in more competitions to improve their skills.
Seven Portuguese athletes are scheduled to compete on Wednesday, the third day of the championships.
Key medal hopes include Catarina Dias, who will face Finland’s Elli Eloranta in the K1 -70kg quarterfinals.
Sofia Oliveira will also return to the ring for her K1 -60kg quarterfinal match against Bosnia’s Emina Prguda.
Other quarterfinalists include Inês Casqueiro in K1 +70kg, Julia Dornelas in Low Kick -52kg, and Cátia Batista in K1 -52kg. João Barros will compete in the Low Kick -71kg round of 16.