The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today the members of the Macedonian karate team, who participated at the European Championship for cadets and older juniors, held in the period February 8 - 10 in Konya, Turkey.

The reception for the delegation of the Karate Federation of Macedonia was organized to commend the achieved success of the Macedonian karate team members, who won one gold and two bronze medals at the European Championship, which was attended by 800 competitors from 44 countries.

The Macedonian karate team member, Viktor Pendarovski, won a bronze medal in the category of juniors, Monika Pendarovska won a bronze medal in the category of cadets, while Berat Jakupi won a gold medal in the category of older juniors, being the third gold medal in his career and also became the only Macedonian athlete who is a three-time continental champion in three different age categories.

At the meeting, President Ivanov congratulated the Macedonian karate team members on the achieved great success, adding that they should, in the future, with maximum commitment and zealous sports life, continue to be the worthy represents of the Republic of Macedonia at the great sporting events in senior competition.


”Sport successes are successes all young people identify with. With the best results you consistently achieve, namely, the won medals at the European Championship, you have shown that you are an extremely positive example for current and future young generations. Victory brings people together, and we, united, in the new sports victories, can bring the joy back we experienced with the victories of the national basketball and handball teams”, President Ivanov said. At the same time, the President stressed that sport is particularly important area for integration and development of mutual tolerance, which can be seen in the implemented project “Sport as Factor for Tolerance, Unity and Respect”, which was accepted by the young people with great interest. “Sport is an activity that greatly strengthens the spirit. Sport as an activity primarily means self-confidence and mental victory over the spirit, and then real sport victory”, President Ivanov said.

The members of the Macedonian karate team informed President Ivanov on the current activities as part of the preparations for participation in future championships, hoping that karate will qualify as Olympic sport in the near future. In this context, President Ivanov expressed confidence that if karate becomes Olympic sport, Karate Federation members will undoubtedly be potential winners of Olympic medals.

At the same time, Macedonian Karate Federation members expressed appreciation for the continued support and for the acknowledgement of the Macedonian President.