The first medals for Germany on the very first day of the title fights in Belgrade
The German taekwondo team won its first two medals at the European Championships in Belgrade on the very first day. Yanna Schneider (Swisttal) and Supharada Kisskalt (Nuremberg) both won bronze on Thursday; the European Championships in the Serbian capital will run until Sunday.
The former junior world champion Schneider first eliminated Poland’s Julia Nowak in the 73 kg category, then defeated her compatriot Polina Khan in the quarter-finals to secure her medal. In the semi-finals, she was defeated by Sude Yaren Uzuncavdar from Turkey.
German champion Kisskalt beat Romanian Ingrid Busuioc in the up to 49 kg category, winning the medal with a quarter-final victory over local hero Milica Milic. In the semi-finals, Kisskalt was then beaten by Olympic silver medalist Adriana Cerezo from Spain. In the men’s competition, Imran Özkaya (Neu-Ulm) narrowly missed out on another medal, finishing fifth in the 63 kg category.
