Thrilling Taekwondo Matches - Medal Winners Revealed!
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Zagreb, July 22, 2023 - The excitement in EUSA Combat 2023 2nd day of the taekwondo competition reached new heights as taekwondo athletes showcased their prowess in the Kyorugi discipline. Today's matches, encompassing the -54 kg, -58 kg, -63 kg, -68 kg, -74 kg, -80 kg, -87 kg, and over 87 kg categories, showcased the remarkable skills of European university representatives, who clinched prestigious gold, silver, and bronze medals.
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Men's Competition
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
In an electrifying display of talent, Haktan Can (54 kg) and Mahmut Kusku (-63 kg), both from Marmara University (TUR) stood atop the podium, seizing the gold medals. Matthew Howell (68 kg) from the University of Nottingham (UK) and Mehmed Kani Polat (-74 kg) from Sabanci University (TUR) dominated their categories, also earning the coveted gold medals.
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Luka Turkalj (-54 kg), Kevin Češljar (-63 kg) and Matija Crep (-74 kg) all representing the host of this competition, the University of Zagreb (CRO) proved their quality and secured three silver medals for their university and country. Sargis Sargsyan (-68 kg) from the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport (ARM) joined the "silver club" with the hosts and was also decorated with a silver medal in his category.
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
The bronze medalists in the -54 kg category featured Harun Yahya Acikgoz from Gazi University (TUR) and Matteo Alegre from Aix-Marseille University (FRA). In the -63 kg category, Ericas Luckauskas from the University of Portsmouth (UK) and Henrique Luz from the University of Lisbon (POR) earned their bronze medals. The -68 kg category saw Omer Furkan Korpe from Gazi University (TUR) and Emircan Turan from Bay Burt University (TUR) triumph with bronze medals. In the -74 kg category, Mustafa Yilmaz from Marmara University (TUR) and Lucian Procopcius from the University of Strathclyde (UK) showcased their skill to secure bronze medals.
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Among the exultant victors, Matthew Howell, the gold medalist in the -68 kg category, exclaimed, "It feels great. I won a medal at the university games last year, and it's an amazing feeling to achieve it again. My plan is to continue training hard and aiming for even more success."
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Women's Competition
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
In the women's competition, Erika Bryhida (-49 kg) from Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (UKR), Paula Temina Monleon (-53 kg) from the University of Valencia (SPA), Markela Teggeri (-57 kg) from the University of Cyprus (CYP), and Ela Jelić (-62 kg) from the University of Zagreb (CRO) dazzled the audience, taking home the gold medals.
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Mihaela Nicoleta Claudia Bajan (-49 kg) from Spiru Herat University (ROM), Sophia Heuschkei (-53 kg) from Hessische Hochschule Fur Finanzen und Rechtspflege (GER), Anna Maria Antoniou (-57 kg) from the University of Cyprus (CYP), and Helmi Harkonen (-62 kg) from the University of Helsinki (FIN) demonstrated their exceptional talent, earning the silver medals.
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
The bronze medalists in the -49 kg category included Hilal Coban from Marmara University (TUR) and Jelena Peruničić from the University Donja Gorica (MNE). Eniko Lili Toth from Eotvos Lorant University (HUN) and Mafalda Barbosa Pacheco Soares from NOVA University Lisbon (POR) secured bronze in the -53 kg category. The -57 kg category bronze medals were claimed by Elisha Rose Shaw from the University of Glasgow (UK) and Loren Correia from the Polytechnic Institute of Management and Technology (POR). In the -62 kg category, Huru Gokce Gogebakan from Gazi University (TUR) and Sahsemen Bagator from Marmara University (TUR) celebrated their bronze victories.
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PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Celebrating her golden triumph in the -62 kg category, Ela Jelić, who is representing the host, University of Zagreb, expressed her emotions:
"The feeling is wonderful. Despite a challenging year, I never thought I'd win the gold, but it turned out to be an incredible moment. I've been preparing for this my whole life, I am in this for fifteen years and I haven't stopped preparing."
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
On Sunday, July 23, the final day of EUSA Combat 2023, the Kyorugi discipline finals in taekwondo promise even more thrilling matches, along with the much-anticipated medal ceremony and closing ceremony.
While today saw the distribution of medals in judo and taekwondo, karate, and kickboxing medal ceremonies are scheduled for tomorrow. The matches continue with the semifinals and matches for third place.
PHOTO: Matija Juranović / EUSA Combat 2023
Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for live coverage of all taekwondo matches: Taekwondo YouTube live streaming, and check out taekwondo results and schedule on the EUSA result system. Also, check out the taekwondo page of our website with all technical info and important links.
Text: Bogoljub Živanović / EUSA Combat 2023 media team