Freund takes next big karate step at worlds

Yonatan Freund has represented Australia many times in major overseas tournaments at junior and cadet level, and more recently in U21 events.

But last weekend in Konya, Turkey, the 20-year-old reached a new milestone, when competing for Australia at a world championships in the U21 men’s under-84kg category.

Although he bowed out in the second round, the University of Sydney student and former Maccabi NSW Junior Sportsman of the Year, will take plenty from the experience of taking on the best in the world.

Especially for the grit and determination he displayed in his epic first round battle versus Poland’s Michal Florczak.

Finding himself trailing 1-7, Freund fought back strongly, staging a huge comeback to snatch a 9-7 victory over his Polish opponent.

His second round bout was a close contest, which Freund ultimately lost 0-1 to Egyptian Ali Abobakr Mohamed.

Freund, who will remain in Europe to train for the next few weeks, before visiting family in Israel on his way home, said he now felt he “belonged at the international level” in his chosen sport.

He also described competing at the U21 world championships as “another important step forward” in his development.

It followed excellent international performances by Freund at two U21 men’s under-84kg tournaments in Turkey, from mid to late September.

At the 2022 Serie A international tournament at Kocaeli province, he finished seventh out of 13.

Then, at the 2022 FISU Combat Sports University World Cup, in the city of Samsun, Freund won a bronze medal for Australia, posting wins on the way over Costa Rica’s Sergio Alvarado, and Turkey’s Hasan Arslan.

His performances in Turkey cap off a memorable second half of the year for Freund, in which he won two individual gold medals, and one team gold for NSW, at the national championships in early August.