Gold medal for Belarus by Iryna Kurachkina at U23 Senior European Championships 2017

Belarus’ wrestler Iryna Kurachkina (-55kg) has won a gold of the U23 Senior European Championships 2017 in Hungarian Szombathely.

Iryna Kurachkina started with successful qualification round against Azerbaijani Solmaz Hashimzada (10:0). In the quarterfinal Iryna destroyed Bilyana Zhivkova Dudova from Bulgaria (10:0) and passed to the semi, where she scarcely withstood against Ramona Galambos, Hungary, with quite persuasive score 9:2. The final round with opposing Turkish Bediha Gun was exhaustive and lacking active attacks. However, Iryna carried out a number of tricky onslaughts and won the duel (5:2).

Two years ago Iryna became the silver awardee of the EuroChamp in Walbrzych, Poland. In 2016 she debuted in seniors’ at the European Championship in Riga and won the silver again, having lost to Swedish Sophie Mattson.

A bronze of the -60 kg was taken by Belarusian Nade Dragunova. Initially she lost to Moldavian Anastasia Nichita, but the next two fight Nade held to the good of Belarus. In the repechage Dragunova was stronger than Gamze Nur Adakan from Turkey (5:0), scoring a bronze as a result.

The day before Vitali Piasniak had conquered a gold for the men’s team.

The U23 Senior EuroChamp continues with women’s competitions in four weight categories. Wrestlers of Greco-Roman style perform at the closing on April 1-2.