Women’s 59 kg
This was a group that many were looking forward to, mainly because the super talented Rebeka Koha (Latvia) stood a good chance of breaking records. In the end that wasn’t to be – she missed a 104 snatch attempt (for a new European senior record) and a 125 clean and jerk attempt (for a new U23 European record). However, she still won the group comfortably with a 221 total. Her nearest rival, Tatiana Aleeva (Russia) made 214. The battle for silver was much closer, with Aleeva’s teammate Aleksandra Kozlova finishing just one kilo behind and Florina Hulpan (Romania) only missing out on a medal by one missed clean and jerk.
The group was notable for the second jury decision of oscillation in the competition. Aysegul Cakin (Turkey) had her first clean and jerk overturned after the jury agreed that she had deliberately oscillated the bar to aid the jerk. Back on day 1, Angel Rusev (Bulgaria) got a similar decision again him in the men’s 55kg category. Historically, this has been a rarely applied rule, so for it to be used twice in such a short time perhaps indicates that it will be enforced more strongly going forwards.
Men’s 67 kg
This group was notable for failure as well as for a victory in a great battle. Daniyar Ismayilov (Turkey), the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, came into this competition needing a total to remain eligible for Olympic qualification (see our guide for why). He led the group after the snatches but bombed out on clean and jerks with two failed attempts at 165 and one at 166. For a man who has a best clean and jerk of 188, this will have been a serious disappointment, especially after bombing at the Fajr Cup earlier this year (that time attempting 175). Since he has no Robi points to date and has no more competitions before the end of the first qualifying period, he will not be able to qualify for Tokyo 2020.
On a more positive note, this group produced an enthralling battle between the top three lifters who did make totals. Simon Brandhuber (Germany) sat in second place after snatches and, after making clean and jerk of 160 and 165 and seeing Ismayilov bomb, will have thought he had a chance at the gold. However, he had to watch as Bernardin Matam (France) and home favourite Goga Chkheidze (Georgia) took shots at gold medal lifts. Despite the support of his teammate Lasha Talakadse, Chkheidze could not make 173 for first place. Matam put in a superb 3/3 clean and jerk performance though, landing 175 with the last lift of the competition to claim the gold medal. Brandhuber had to be satisfied with silver and Chkheidze took bronze, the second medal for Georgia in the competition.
Records
Mirko Zanni (Italy) set a new European U23 snatch record with 142 in the Men’s 67kg
Goga Chkheidze (Georgia) set new European U23 Clean and Jerk (169) and total (308) records. Mirko Zanni (Italy) had earlier set the total record at 305.
6/6
Marianne Saarhelo made all six of her lists in the 59 B group, going 82-8588 on snatch and 100-104-108 on clean and jerk to finish top of her group and eleventh overall.
Medal Table
Turkey remain top of the medal table with Italy managing to hold on to second place.
Russia are notable for amassing seven silver and three bronze medals but not a single gold thus far.
| All Medals | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Turkey | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Italy | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Romania | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Latvia | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Bulgaria | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Belarus | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| France | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Poland | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Russia | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Germany | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Armenia | 0 | 1 | 0 |