2nd European Universities Taekwondo Championship
Braga, Portugal: December 13-15, 2011
The 2nd European Universities Taekwondo Championship was held in Braga (POR) between December 13 and 15, 2011. The event was marked by the presence of prominent student athletes, among which we can highlight Portuguese students Rui Bragança (World Vice Champion), Nuno Pinto (World Top 20, World University medallist), Mário Silva (Vice Olympic Youth Champion), Jean Michel Fernandes (Junior Vice Champion), Ana Coelho (Silver medallist in Serbia Open, Female Athlete of the Year), Ana Rita Lopes (European University Vice Champion) and Eduardo Rodriguez (World University bronze medallist). Germany excelled with Konstantinos Konstantinidis (European Champion) and Sebastian Lehmann (European University medallist), while Russia had big names like Musikhina Ekaterina (Universiade bronze medallist), Kristina Khafizova (TOP 10 World) and Albert Gaaun (World University champion).
The international sports event officially started with the opening ceremony on December 14, concluded the day later. With 40 universities from 16 countries participating, the championship was very siccessfuil, especially since the event has been moved from initially planned location in Sofia. UMinho is the organiser of this event for the second time, which is a result of fruitful cooperation with the Academic Association of the University of Minho (AAUM), the Academic Federation of University Sports (FADU) under the aegis of the European University Sports Association (EUSA).
The event was attended also by prominent authorities like the Rector of UMinho, Antonio Cunha, the EUSA President Alberto Gualtieri, President of the FADU, Bruno Barracosa, the President of FPTaekwondo Jos Luis Sousa, the administrator of the SASUM, Carlos Silva, president of the AAUM, Lus Rodriguez, among others.
EUSA was represented at the championship by its President Mr Alberto Gualtieri and Chairman of the Medical Commission Mr Haris Pavletic and EUSA technical delegate for EUC Taekwondo 2011 Mr Joaquim Peixoto. The delegation was also received by the Rector of UMinho.
The Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism was undoubtedly the winner of the II Taekwondo EUC, conquering 14 medals (10 golds, 1 silver and 3 bronzes), while the country with the most medals was Spain (15 medals), spread across seven universities.
With so many stars present, this event could only have a special glow, with a time of great athletes, competitions, social events and overall organisation for over 340 individuals directly involved in the championship - athletes, coaches, technical staff, organisers, volunteers, etc. Increase in participation proves that Taekwondo has a bright future in European university sport.
For more information and photos please visit the official website of the event at www.taekwondo11.sas.uminho.pt. The next Taekwondo event within the EUSA sports programme is the 3rd European Universities Taekwondo Championship, to take place in Kazan, Russia, in 2013.
Champions - Men:
(-54Kg) Antoine Carpentier, University of Caen (FRA)
(-58Kg) Rui Bragança, University of Minho (POR)
(-63Kg) Mário Silva, University of Minho (POR)
(-68Kg) Denis Mikhailov, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(-74Kg) Albert Gaun, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(-80Kg) Nikita Korotkov, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(-87Kg) Isaev Radik, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(+87Kg) Iurii Kirichenko, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
Champions - Women:
(-46Kg) Mariia Smirnova, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(-49Kg) Nilza Reis, University of Valencia (ESP)
(-53Kg) Irina Kozlova, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(-57Kg) Musikhina Ekaterina, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(-62Kg) Estefania Almeda, University of Valencia (ESP)
(-67Kg) Alina Smailieva, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)
(-73Kg) Saina Savage HAMK, University of applied sciences (FIN)
(+73Kg) Tolkunova Svetlana, Russian University of Physical Education, Sport and Tourism (RUS)