40 countries participated in the championships held in Sofia (Photo: IBA)
The EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships 2022 have ended with Ukraine topping the medals table, winning 5 out of the 25 gold medals at Sofia, Bulgaria.
England came second with four gold medals, followed by Ireland with three golds. Both countries had returned to the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships after a break.
Georgia won two golds, while Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Romania, Serbia and Turkey won one gold medal each.
Serbian boxer Sara Cirkovic and three-time European champion Enriko Itauma from England were named the best boxers of the championship.
“The quality of the boxers and the quality of the championships is really high-class, I’m very satisfied. The kids bring a lot of very exciting fights, and I saw a lot of talents,” said Istvan Kovacs, Secretary General of the International Boxing Association (IBA).
“The very important point is that not only Ukraine, not only Italy and other big countries showed they have a lot of potential but others too. That means that Europe has not just several countries but all of the European countries (are) ready to step into a high level,” he noted.
377 young boxers from 40 countries participated in the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships. Boxers who were born in 2004 and in 2005 were eligible to compete in the 12 female weight categories and 13 male weight categories.
The Bulgarian Boxing Federation hosted the event in Sofia after a gap of three years.
“This is one of our main goals to host one elite or youth championship during the year. And we hope that we will be able to elevate the next ones. And we also hope that we will be part of the World boxing tour as we had the pilot event this year,” said Krasimir Ininski, president of the Bulgarian Boxing Federation.
The winners list:
Women
48kg: Filiz Isik, Turkey
50kg: Sara Cirkovic, Serbia
52kg: Kaelya Mopin, France
54kg: Emily Whitworth, England
57kg: Asya Ari, Germany
60kg: Tetiana Dovhal, Ukraine
63kg: Valentina Marra, Italy
66kg: Crinuta Andra Sebe, Romania
70kg: Veronika Nakota, Ukraine
75kg: Sunniva Hofstad, Norway
81kg: Dearbhla Tinnelly, Ireland
+81kg: Cliona D’Arcy, Ireland
Men
48kg: Kanan Babayev, Azerbaijan
51kg: Gor Ayvazyan, Georgia
54kg: Owen Ketley, England
57kg: Aider Abduraimov, Ukraine
60kg: Erik Israyelyan, Armenia
Men’s 63.5kg: Demur Kajaia, Georgia
67kg: Oleksiy Boklakh, Ukraine
71kg: Flood Duggan, Ireland
75kg: Oleksandr Balabin, Ukraine
80kg: Michail Tsamalidis, Greece
86kg: Georgi Stoyanov, Bulgaria
92kg: Damar Thomas, England
+92kg: Enriko Itauma, England