Turkey grabs all records at Junior European Cup in Athens

At the Junior European Cup in Athens the team of Turkey was by far the most successful. On Saturday the Turkish judoka claimed seven gold medals. On Sunday another title was added. The Turkish team never won 8 gold medals in one event outside Turkey and to finish success on Sunday, the 100st gold medal ever was secured, amazing milestone.

Host Greece secured two gold medals on Sunday at the Iliadis Cup. Men’s heavyweight Dimitrios Tsoumitas took the title for his country and Mina Agneta Ricken won gold U63kg against Jovana Obradovic (SRB). Austria won two title as well, starting with Asimina Theodorakis on Saturday U57kg while U70kg Michaela Polleres took the title. Polleres is selected for the European Senior Championships in Warsaw recently as alternative for the injured Bernadette Graf.

In the men’s division four different winners from four different nations won gold. Sergii Krivchach in an all Ukrainian final U81kg. Oussama Snoussi of Tunisia which is hopeful for the nation that organizes a Grand Prix next year, and gold for Daniel Mukete of Belarus, who showed again the future of his country. As mentioned Tsoumitis took the heavyweight title. However on Saturday Turkey dominated the event. All men took the title: Oguzhan Ozisik U55kg, Samet Kumtas U60kg, Ugurcan Zehir U66kg and Bilal Ciloglu U73kg. Almost the same scenario for women. Turkey has a reputation in the lightweight categories. U44kg was won by Cicek Akyuz, U48kg by Melisa Cakmakli and U52kg Irem Korkmaz was the best among 14 young women. On Sunday heavyweight Kubranur Esir added the 100st victory at Junior level for Turkey. Since 2001 Turkey won exactly 100 gold medals in the current IJF Junior World Tour, or EJU European Cups, for A-tournaments for Juniors.

Never Turkey won 8 gold medals in one weekend outside Turkey.