Marlene Farstad Grøttem (23), world champion in kickboxing – news Troms and Finnmark

Marlene Farstad Grøttem became world champion in full-contact kickboxing in the up to 70-kilogram class on Friday afternoon. The reigning European champion from Tjeldsund in Troms has been in great form in the championship, and won Thursday’s semi-final against Kazakhstan’s Guibanu Samatova superbly 3–0. In the final in Portugal, the reigning European champion from Troms again showed his best side. Grøttem delivered from the start, beating former world champion Tereza Cvingerová from the Czech Republic 3–0. Just after Grøttem’s victory, Amalie Anker Johansson (26) from Arendal – who is known by many from the TV 2 series “Tropp 1” – was to compete against Ana Bajic from Croatia in the final in the class over 70 kilos. Bajic opened the match best, before Johansson rose a little further in the game. However, it was not enough for the 26-year-old, who lost the final 3–0. FINALE: Kristin Julianne Vollstad won the semi-final against Italian Maria Constana 3–0. Turkish opposition awaits in the final. Photo: Daimi Akin In the following match, the stage was set for the final between the “queen” of Norwegian and international kickboxing Kristin Julianne Vollstad and Turkish Güler Deniz Topuz in the up to 56-kilogram class. Vollstad, who earlier this year won the Vollstad WAKO pro title in front of the home crowd in Bjølsenhallen in Oslo, started the match terrifically. The 32-year-old from Nordreisa in Troms never looked back, and won 3-0 against his Turkish competitor. In the class up to 52 kilos, it was Charlotte Berg Andersen and Italian Nicle Perona who were to settle for the title. Andersen, who won her semi-final against Bulgaria’s Alexandra Dimitrova 3-0, had a tough time against her Italian competitor. Perona started the match best, and eventually won 3–0 over their Norwegian competitor. 3-0: Charlotte Berg Andersen superbly progressed to the WC final in Portugal. Photo: Daimi Akin



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