Iran collects eight medals in Azerbaijan karate tournament

Cadet and junior Iranian taekwondo practitioners have shown promising displays at a tournament dedicated to the victims of a bloody tragedy perpetrated against the people of Azerbaijan on January 20, 1990, and received eight medals. 

On Sunday, junior Iranian karatekas Abbas Malakouti and Elnaz Amir Sharifi managed to overcome their opponents in the kumite contests of the event at the Baku Sports Palace, and deservedly clinched two gold medals.

Helena Pirali Kheirabadi and Parastesh Alikhani added two more gold medals to Iran’s tally in the cadet category.

Additionally, Mohammad Reza Ganjizadeh, Roqayyeh Ghanizadeh, Nasim Rahmai and Niayesh Mirzahassanpour earned a bronze medal each.

The Azerbaijan karate tournament started on January 13, 2018, and wrapped up the following day.

It brought tighter some 400 young male and female karate practitioners from Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Russia and Uzbekistan.

Black January, also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown in Baku between January 19 and 20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The tragedy reportedly claimed the lives of 137 people. Some 744 people were severely injured, and about 841 others were illegally arrested.

The Soviet troops also destroyed 200 flats and houses, and damaged personal and state properties as well.

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