European Cup on Orenburg tatami

Between May 20 and 22 Orenburg hosted the European Judo Cup for the prizes of Yury Vysheslavtsev, Hero of Socialist Labor, former Director General of Orenburggazprom.

The competition was held under the auspices of Gazprom dobycha Orenburg that repeatedly demonstrated a high level of the tournament organization.

European Judo Cup opening in Orenburg

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This tournament is held for the eighth time with an international status. In 2009 it was put in the European calendar and starting from 2010 it became the European Cup.

Sportsmen from 23 countries competed in Orenburg. Besides Russia, judo sportsmen from nearly all CIS states took part in the competition as well as from the UK, the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Denmark, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia and other states. 2008 Olympic champion Ilia Iliadis, World and European champions were among the remarkable sportsmen.

Final encounter

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The competition was held on three tatamis simultaneously. Some 300 sportsmen wrestled.

Gazprom dobycha Orenburg makes considerable efforts to promote judo in the Orenburg Oblast. 430 boys and girls go in for judo at the Gazovik children’s and youth sports school alone. Some of them turned in a good performance at the European Cup.

Dmitry Kulikov and Anastasia Pykhteeva, the Gazovik children’s and youth sports school apprentices, won the silver and bronze medals respectively. Russian sportsmen won 40 medals with 13 gold ones in the overall standings.

Yury Vysheslavtsev, Hero of Socialist Labor, former Director General of Orenburggazprom moderates medal awarding ceremony

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