Italy power to wheelchair basketball gold

Italy marched relentlessly to wheelchair basketball gold at the European Para Youth Games in Istanbul as they proved a class above all their opponents.

It was a wonderful exhibition of the sport from a richly-talented team led majestically by Alessandro Sbuelz.

Victories over the Netherlands, Portugal and France put Italy in pole position to finish off the job on Sunday (July 27) at Cebeci Sports Complex.

And they did not disappoint, making certain of top spot by crushing Ireland 77-29 and then comfortably defeating Spain 96-22 in their final fixture that also closed the competition.

Ireland had no answer as Federico Balsamo top-scored with 15 points, underlining his influence alongside Sbuelz and the similarly-prolific Luigi Topo. Between them, they amassed well over 150 points in the competition.

Portugal's 63-46 victory over Ireland ensured that they won the silver medal, with Netherlands securing bronze.

In the pool, Paris 2004 Paralympic Games gold medallist David Kratochvil of Czechia took his gold medal haul to six over the three thrilling days of competition with victories in the boys 100m breaststroke, 100 back and 50m free.

Croatia Emma Mecic swept to three golds on the final night to finish the competition with five golds, having had to settle for silver in the girls 100m butterfly behind HUngary's Csenge Hotz.

Ukraine’s Artem Oliinyk will leave Istanbul with four golds after winning the boys 200m medley.

A packed Para table tennis schedule concluded with doubles finals, which included victories in Class XD14 for German pair Benedikt Muller and Nina Reck over Poland's Marcin Zielinski and Barbara Jablonka, with Czechia's Filip Prchlik and Tereza Cakorova winning Class XD17.

Cakorova then collected another gold medal when she teamed up with Nela Kemlinkova to win the women's doubles WD14-20 class, and the final event - the men's doubles Class MD14 - went to Polish pair Zielinski and Piotr Manturz.

Germany dominated the men’s goalball tournament winning all six of their games in convincing fashion while Turkey retained the women’s title after beating Germany in all three meetings.

Turkiye celebrated a golden clean sweep as Para taekwondo came to a close at Cebeci with Emre Bulgur taking the male K44 -80kg title and Osman Erturk the K44 +80kg. In the female K44 +65kg, Fatima Yoldas triumphed.

The record-breaking Istanbul 2025 European Para Youth Games officially open on 24 July and run until 27 July. They will feature a record 640 athletes with 1,200 competitors, coaches and team staff from 33 countries, also the biggest ever number, competing in Para archery, Para athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, goalball, Para judo, Para swimming, Para table tennis and Para taekwondo.

Participants will also get to experience the Discovery Programme where they will have the chance to take part in education and experiences in a broad range of topics, including activities designed to immerse the people of Istanbul in EPYG and to get to know Para sport.