Too many Russian medals at European Cup Orenburg

The Russian men won all titles at the second day of the European Cup in Orenburg. On Saturday the Russian women dominated the day and after two days Russia captured 9 gold medals and 40 medals in total. It says enough about a weak international field with 16 countries and 279 athletes in total. However some weight categories had a healthy capacity of participants.

The best seeded category on Sunday was the men’s U81kg with an all Russian final where Fuad Khaspladov who bested Turpal Tepkaev. The category U90kg was the only division with an international final when Iurii Bozhan was the strongest against Jamal Petgrave (GBR). U100kg delivered a clean sheet for Russia with four Russian athletes on the stage. Arman Adamian was the best U100kg in quite a nice Russian field. Russian U23 Adamian won silver at the Grand Prix in Antalya and silver at the World Junior Championships, so he was a top class performer today in Orenburg… and for the record he was the oldest winner of the day with just 21 years.

Kemal Kaitov won his heavyweight classwhere Inal Tasoev lost to Uladzislau Tsiarpitski (BLR) in an early stage but the world junior champion and GP Antalya winner came back and won bronze afterall.

In the women’s division Belarus won gold via Zhanna Asipovich U70kg. Asipovich defeated Alexandra Balabanova (RUS) in the final. Alice Matejckova of Czech Republic won the first European Cup for her country since 2016 and first abroad (including Slovakia) since 2011. She defeated Nazgul Maratova (KAZ) in the only final without a Russian athlete. Evgeniia Kondrashova bested Aleksandra Khomyn and it delivered a full Russian podium.