Cyprus makes history with judo medals at Taranto 2026

At the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, the Cypriot judo team achieved notable success on August 28, 2026. Sofia Asvesta secured the gold medal in the women's -52kg category after a grueling final against Syrian athlete Soumiya Iraoui, while Petros Christodoulides earned the silver medal in the men's -66kg division following a final match against Serbian Marko Jorgic. These victories brought Cyprus's total count at the games to three gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.

Leading up to these finals, Asvesta defeated Maria Siderot and Pauline Cuq, while Christodoulides overcame Bouchita Abdrakhame and Adrian Nieto Chinaro. Asvesta's victory was particularly significant as she had previously faced her Syrian opponent at the Paris Olympics. In other competition developments, the Cyprus men's handball team concluded its group stage appearances following a 39-24 loss to Greece. While the handball team moves on to play for placements 5-8 on August 29 and 31, other Cypriot athletes continue their participation in sports including sailing, tennis, and the newly introduced fin swimming. The successful performance of the judo team has bolstered confidence within the Cyprus Olympic Committee for future international competitions.