Medal hunt in Warsaw
The European Universities Combat Sports Championships in combat sports are gaining momentum. On the second day of the competition, a bag of medals awaited the participants. In kickboxing, there were as many as 15 categories on the podium! Judo athletes also had more reasons to celebrate.
At the Arche Krakowska hotel, the smell of warming ointment mingled with sweat. It was there, on the first floor, that fierce kickboxing matches took place. For some, just participating in this international tournament was a great adventure, but also an opportunity to represent their university. Although everyone wanted to win, after defeat they were able to shake hands with their opponent. Everything was done in the spirit of fair play.
The first gold medals were awarded in kickboxing. On Sunday, the winners of the competition were selected in as many as 15 weight categories in K1, full contact and pointfighting formulas. In one of the finals, students from Polish universities competed against each other. In the 65 kg full contact category, Oliwia Ścigaj (Jozef Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw) defeated Wiktoria Sniegowska (University of Zielona Gora).
Moments earlier, her university colleague Damian Wrzos (Jozef Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw) lost to Gork Damar (Istanbul Kent University) in the 86 kg category. In the 56 kg category, Olena Shydlowska (Vincent Pol University in Lublin) defeated Paolo Tomrecaj (University of Split). Julia Marciniak (University of Humanities and Economics in Lodz) won the final of the 60 kg category against Laura Jakovleva (Riga State Technical School).
- I have just competed in the Taekwondo World Championships and now I am preparing for the Kickboxing World Championships. So I wasn't fully prepared, but it was a good test run. I am happy that I managed to win the gold medal, because every medal is a joy, especially at such an important event. The final was definitely the most difficult, and my opponent deserved her place in the final. I had to fight at 100% until the very end - said Julia Marciniak.
In the K1 formula, in the 71 kg category, Kacper Staszewski (Lublin University of Technology) lost to Dominik Horvath (Eszterházy Károly University). In pointfighting, Filippos Filippidis (Warsaw School of Economics) lost to Stepan Knyshov (University of Ostrava). Gabriela Kowalska (The Maria Grzegorzewska University (APS)) lost to Nurhana Fazlic (University of Graz).
Gaudeamus Igitur also rang out during the judo medal ceremony. The competition almost ended with a big surprise, and Summer Universiade gold medallist Michał Jędrzejewski would have finished off the podium. The Pole lost in the first round to Lucian Laris Bors-Dumitrescu (Polytechnic University of Bucharest), who ultimately won the gold medal. However, the Pole advanced to the repechage and defeated Moritz Augustin (University of Rostock) in the bronze medal match. Although Jędrzejowski did not win three gold medals at academic events this season, he was still satisfied.
- I was really hoping for that hat trick and believed that I would also win a gold medal in front of the Polish audience. I also have to appreciate this bronze medal, because after the first fight I had a cold shower. I could have ended this tournament without any points. I am glad that the competitor I lost to pulled me into the repechage. After the Universiade, I didn't have much time for a break because I was training all the time and came here after two camps. So I can't say that I underestimated the competition because I wanted to win here - said Michał Jedrzejewski.
In the women's 78 kg+ category, Roxana Visa (Babes Bolyai University) won, defeating Wiktoria Lis (Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice) in the final. In the over 70 kg category, Betty Vuk (University of Bologna) defeated Anne Dybe (University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw), while in the over 63 kg category, Karla Kulic (University of Split) won the gold medal. Eva Buddenkotte (German Sport University) won in the under 70 kg category.
In the over 90 kg category, Giorgi Khmaladze defeated Rares Stefan Arsenie (University Politechnica of Bucharest). In the over 100 kg category, Davit Tchikadze (Georgian Uni SEU) defeated Darius Dobre (University Politechnica of Bucharest). Jakub Sordyl (Gdańsk University of Technology) won bronze in this category. In the under 81 kg category, Emil-Johann Hennebach (University of Leipzig) won. In the category up to 90 kg, Augustast Slyteris (Vytautas Magnus University) won.
After two days, Ondokuz Mayı University (Turkey) leads the medal table with four gold medals. Anadolu University (Turkey) is in second place with five medals, including two gold medals. Third place is held by the Jozef Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw (Poland) with four medals, including two gold medals.
More: https://combatsports2025.eusa.eu/
Results: https://results.eusa.eu/index.php?page=multi&id=123&menu=1&ln=en
Txt: Robert Zakrzewski
Foto: Marcin Klimczak