Portuguese taekwondo competitors Miguel Martinho and Diogo Costa saw their medal hopes dashed in the second round of the European Olympic Weight Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, after facing top-seeded athletes who went on to secure bronze medals.
Both Martinho and Costa finished ninth in the -80 kg category, ending their campaigns prematurely.
Miguel Martinho initially defeated Dmitrii Suleac of Moldova in his first bout. However, he was subsequently eliminated by Zur Kintsurashvili of Georgia, who was the tournament’s top seed.
Kintsurashvili ultimately claimed a bronze medal in the competition.
Diogo Costa also advanced past his first opponent, Bassem Amri of France. His progression was halted in the second round by Artem Mytarev, the second seed from Russia, who competed under a neutral flag.
Mytarev also went on to win a bronze medal.
Other Portuguese athletes experienced early exits from the championships. Alfredo Martins and Tiago Reis, competing in the -68 kg category, were eliminated in their opening matches.
Mafalda Coelho (-67 kg) and Maria Francisca (+67 kg) also lost their first bouts, concluding the overall Portuguese squad’s performance.