The prestigious "Istanbul Junior European Cup 2026" tournament, hosted in Istanbul, Turkey, has concluded. The competition, which featured over 500 young judokas from 27 countries, was marked by intense and highly competitive matches.
On the second day of the tournament, winners were determined in the middle and heavyweight categories. Representing Uzbekistan, Fazliddin Rafikov secured the top spot on the podium in the +100 kg weight class after decisively defeating all his opponents. Throughout the tournament, he triumphed over representatives from Russia, the Netherlands, Japan, and Azerbaijan, rightfully earning the gold medal.
Other members of the national team also achieved notable results. Arapbay Daurbayev (-60 kg) and Sabina Azamatova (-52 kg) won silver medals, while Khushnud Sultonov (-60 kg) took home the bronze.
With a total of one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, the Uzbekistan youth national team finished 4th in the overall team standings among 27 countries. This result demonstrates that our country's judokas are increasingly strengthening their position on the international stage.
According to the press service of the Judo Federation of Uzbekistan, such competitions serve as a valuable school of experience for young athletes.
In short, this tournament in Istanbul has become another successful chapter for Uzbek judokas.
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