A young athlete from Balkhash won gold at the World Karate Championship in Japan

Thirteen-year-old Daria Lee from Balkhash became the world karate champion, winning a gold medal at a tournament in Japan.

Daria is in the eighth grade of the Alimkhan Ermekov Lyceum school. He has been engaged in sports since he was 6 years old. She has devoted the last four years to karate, she has a brown belt, she is a three-time champion of Kazakhstan in her age category. The athlete is coached by the owner of the black belt of the fourth dan Didar Ashirbekov.

– When I decided to do karate, many people dissuaded me. But I like the very philosophy of this sport. Playing at the World Cup is my first experience of participating in international tournaments. There wasn't much excitement. Thanks to the coach's attitude and his support, I felt like I was in training. Probably, this helped me to win," Daria believes.

Playing sports does not prevent the girl from being successful at school. She is a multiple winner of city, regional, and international Olympiads in mental mathematics, an active participant in the public life of the school.

– My daughter's victory is entirely the merit of coach Didar Ashirbekov. He is very strict, does not give indulgences to anyone, brings up character in children, – says Daria's mother Elena Kim. – Unfortunately, trips to such tournaments are not financially supported.

20 athletes represented Kazakhstan at the World Karate-do Shotokan Championship in Tokyo. In total, they won four gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

– The Kazakh team included athletes from Almaty, Atyrau and Balkhash. Together with Daria Lee, I took an equally promising athlete Damir Kuznetsov," says Didar Ashirbekov. – Daria defeated her rivals from Japan and North Africa. In the final, she won the fight against an athlete from Australia. Damir Kuznetsov passed the qualifying round, defeating athletes from Germany and Ireland. But in the final he was sued. In general, our team performed very well.

In total, about 70 athletes are engaged with Didar Ashirbekov. Many of them are repeated winners of republican tournaments. In the near future, the coach wants to take his players to international tournaments in Russia, Georgia and France.