Ten years history at the European Cup in Orenburg

As usual the Russian team dominated the European Cup in Orenburg. With ten gold medals and 32 medals in total. The Russians were followed by four other golden countries, Belarus, France, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. In total there were 14 medal winning nations. The Russian even improved the nine gold medals of 2018.

In ten editions of the European Cup Russia won 96 of the 140 titles, 68%. Viktoria Baidak and Dmitry Dovgan added their second title in Orenburg this weekend. No one ever won the title three times and they belong to the ten players who captured the gold in Orenburg twice.

Madina Taimazova was this weekend’s youngest winner. The 19-year old Russian had won the European title as a Cadet and as a Junior. At World level she won bronze at the World cadets in 2015 and with the Russian mixed team she won bronze at the World Junior Championships. However what failed was senior success. This was her first mark at this level, although less competitive as other European Cups, Taimazova showed she can be an asset U70kg. In the final she bested Melissa Heleine of France and became the youngest winner this weekend.

Dovgan was the oldest winner, the 28-year old is not the top talent in Russia in his category U100kg. He stepped up from U90kg three years ago and this was his second golden confirmation in Orenburg. In 2015 he won the European Open in Sofia, but didn’t proceed his way up in this competitive category, but he will remember today’s gold in Orenburg.