(December 5, 2017) – American Brianna Salinaro (Massapequa, N.Y.) captured the bronze medal in the female K44 -58kg division on Sunday at the 2017 IWAS World Games in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal. The performance comes on the heels of her bronze medal at the 2017 World Para Taekwondo Championships.
Salinaro lost a 19-7 decision to Russia’s Mariyam Salimgereeva in the semifinals. Salimgereeva would go on to win the silver medal in the division.
Other Americans in action included Michael Kacer (Cary, N.C.) who reached the quarterfinals of the male K44 -75kg class. Kacer defeated Nigeria’s Ismae Oumarou Gouzae, 16-6, before dropping a 19-6 decision to eventual gold medalist Mahdi Pourrahnama of Iran.
In the male K44 +75kg division, Johnny Birch (Carlisle, Pa.), Corbin Stacey (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and Evan Medell (Grand Haven, Mich.) all reached the quarterfinal round. Birch lost to eventual gold medalist Asghar Aziziaghdam of Iran, 15-2. Stacey lost 13-0 to eventual silver medalist Bayram Kayan of Turkey. Medell dropped an 11-9 decision to Azerbaijan’s Vugar Adishirinov.
