Belarus’ Gurtsiev qualifies for 2024 Paris Olympics

Bulgaria’s Sofia played host to the 2024 European Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament, BelTA has learned.

The event had 16 Olympic berths for grabs - eight for men and eight for women. Belarus’ Georgi Gurtsiev qualified for the Olympics reaching the 58kg final. The Belarusian defeated Armenia’s Saidali Aliev in the round of 16, Portugal’s  Rui Braganca in the quarterfinal, and Lev Korneev from Serbia in semifinal. The other Olympic berth was secured by Ireland’s Jack Woolley. Georgi Gurtsiev won silver at the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Artsiom Plonis of Belarus was close to secured his Olympic berth in the +80kg category. The Belarusian beat Erik Farmakas of Sweden and North Macedonia’s Dejan Georgievski, but lost to Slovenia’s Patrik Divkovic. Artsiom Plonis collected the tournament’s bronze seeing off Ukraine’s Andrii Harbar.

Uladzislava Sarokina of Belarus (49kg) lost to Avishag Semberg of Israel in the  first round.