In the men’s -60 kg category, the group stage was packed with intensity. Ecuador’s Anthony Tamayo opened with a narrow 5-4 win over Peru’s Hermes Moreno, while Argentina’s Gallardo got off to a solid start by defeating Venezuela’s Chirinos (2-0). Moreno bounced back with a dominant 10-2 victory over Panama’s Castillo, but Gallardo remained unstoppable, defeating Mexico’s Ponce and Paraguay’s Florentín.
The semifinals lived up to the hype: Chirinos (VEN) asserted himself with a commanding 4-0 win over Moreno (PER), while Gallardo held his nerve to edge out Jean Dorta (USA) 2-1. In the highly anticipated final, Argentina and Venezuela delivered a tactical, hard-fought clash. Gallardo, with patience and precision, secured a razor-thin 1-0 victory to claim junior Pan American gold.
In the women’s -50 kg division, Nicaragua’s Joysi Tinoco emerged as the tournament’s breakout star. From the group stage, she showed grit and confidence, defeating Mexico’s Salinas to secure her spot with authority. In the semifinals, Tinoco confirmed her form with a 6-3 win over Bolivia’s Melani Unzueta, while Venezuela’s Ana Vásquez advanced after a tight 3-2 battle against Colombia’s Ospina.
The final was a true tactical showdown. Tinoco and Vásquez engaged in a tense, back-and-forth fight, decided by the smallest of margins. With determination, the Central American prevailed 2-1, writing a golden chapter for Nicaragua in these Games.
Karate’s closing day in Asunción sent a clear message: the grit and technical brilliance of the continent’s young talents are shaping the future of the sport on the Pan American tatami.
