Sansai, a karate club from Burgas, returned from Romania with 40 medals from the Bucharest Contact Open and finished fifth in the overall club standings.

Its fighters competed in 20 finals. They won 10 gold, 10 silver and 20 bronze medals.

The 23rd Bucharest Contact Open was held in Bucharest on 31 October. About 1,000 competitors from 60 clubs and 12 countries took part.

Sansai credits the result to the hard work and persistence of its athletes and coaches, and to good preparation. The club's next event is the national championship at the end of the month.

Romania's CSM Râmnicu Sărat finished seventh among the clubs with 18 medals: 7 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze. The club credits its athletes' hard work, coach Costi Lambru and the support of parents.

Etar karate club sent seven athletes, who won 6 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze medals. Amira Abulibde won the under-18 girls' kumite (up to 59 kg) and the women's kumite (up to 61 kg).

Georgi Markov took gold in the under-16 kumite (up to 57 kg) and finished third in the under-18 kumite (up to 61 kg). Denislav Radev won two bronze medals, in the under-16 kumite (up to 52 kg) and the under-18 kumite (up to 55 kg).

Darina Kabakchieva won the under-10 and under-12 kata and took third place in the under-10 kumite. Nikolay Nikolov won the under-10 kata and came second in the under-12 kata and in the under-10 kumite (up to 35 kg).

Maria Valerieva came second in the under-12 kumite (up to 35 kg) and third in the under-10 kumite in the same weight class. Mihaela Dimitrova came second in the under-10 kumite (up to 40 kg).

Etar coach Nikolay Lesichkov says the medals, including those many of his athletes won in a higher age group, show a good level. He says the tournament was a good test for the juniors before the Balkan Championship in Istanbul next week, and useful international experience for the youngest athletes.