Reigning champions return to Youth European Boxing Championships in Poreč
April 4th, 2024 / EUBC
Five gold medallists are ready for round two at the EUBC Youth Men and Women European Boxing Championships, as they aim to match their 2023 glory at this year’s competition in Poreč, Croatia from 4 – 14 April.
Poland’s Kinga Krowka, last year’s winner at 60kg, returns one weight category up, taking on the 63kg competition, a crown held previously by the absent home favourite Mariela Steko. Her first opponent will be Slovakia’s Sophia Brettschneider.
Women’s 57kg defending champion Panagiota Kouzilou of Greece will be returning in an attempt to keep her crown for a second successive year, while 70kg gold medallist Amalia Maria Nita from Romania will attempt to stand atop the podium again in the 75kg weight category, starting against home favourite Ema Plazina from Croatia.
Both returning men’s gold medallists will not defend their titles, as they all compete in higher weight categories.
Konstantin Yordano Kostov from Bulgaria won the 57kg final in Armenia and will now try to keep his title against 23 other boxers, starting against Mohamed Amin Taidi from Belgium.
Kostov’s compatriot, last year’s 60kg silver medallist Iliev Viktorio Venelinov will look to upgrade his medal in the absence of defending champion.
Finally, Armenia’s Davit Simonyan, last year’s 86kg winner, will move up to 92kg along with Dragos Dumitrel Badea from Romania, who won bronze on the same podium as him.
In total, there are 21 returning medallists from last year’s EUBC Youth Men and Women European Boxing Championships.
There are 330 boxers registered to compete from 33 national teams, with Ukraine having the largest team followed by Azerbaijan, Croatia and Romania.
