By Liam Morgan

France and Italy both finished with a total of seven medals as the European Junior Cadet and Under-21 Karate Championships drew to a close in ZurichFrance and Italy both stretched their haul of gold medals to seven as the European Junior, Cadet and Under-21 Karate Championships in Zurich came to a close.

The French, who finished with a total of 19 medals, along with Italy had been the dominant forces throughout the Championships and they each sealed another three titles on the final day.

Frenchwoman Sophia Bouderbane got her nation off to the best possible start as she beat Spain's Gema Morales Osuna to take victory in the under-21 kumite under 50 kilograms female division, before Leila Heirtault reigned supreme in the under-21 kumite under 60kg category.

France seemed to monopolise the female medals throughout the event after clinching three golds on the second day but the French men did also taste some success as Jessie Da Costa beat off competition from Enes Garibovic to win the under-21 kumite male under 84kg class.

It also proved to be a good day for the Italians, who finished with a total of 16 medals.

Federica Riccardi emerged victorious in the under-21 kumite female under 55kg division after beating Russia's Valeria Finashkina in the final.

Silvia Semeraro then built on Riccardi's triumph by winning the under 68kg event in the same category, before Clio Ferracuti claimed victory in the over 68kg division with a win over Serbia's Minja Simic.

Elsewhere on the final day, Croatian Boran Berak took the under-21 kumite male under 60kg crown, while Turkey, who finished third on the overall medals table with 14, had just a solitary title to celebrate as Alparslan Yamanoglu won the over 84kg class.

Hungary's Gabor Harspataki and Vladimir Jovic were the other victors, topping the under 67kg and under 75kg divisions respectively.

At the Closing Ceremony, World Karate Federation President Antonio Espinos handed over the flag to Cyprus Karate Federation President Andreas Vassiliou as the 2016 European Junior, Cadet and Under-21 Karate Championships are due to be held in Limassol.

The weekend's action saw 955 athletes, ranging from the ages of 14 to 21, compete across 35 categories.

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