Adverse weather conditions dominated the opening day of the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia, creating difficulties for both organisers and athletes at the GSP Athletics Stadium.

For the second consecutive year, the event has been affected by unusual weather. Last year’s competition was held in temperatures of around 30°C under summer conditions, while this year athletes competed in temperatures between 10°C and 15°C amid cold, rainy weather.

Heavy rainfall on the morning of Saturday, 14 March, forced organisers to delay the start of the competition by 30 minutes. Although the rain eased later in the day, thick cloud cover and low temperatures created challenging conditions for competitors.

Despite the difficult weather, the first day of the 25th European Throwing Cup proceeded smoothly. Several strong performances were recorded, with organisers and volunteers praised for their swift handling of the situation and athletes commended for competing under demanding conditions.

Kesidis claims silver medal

The event most affected by the early morning rain was the men’s under-23 hammer throw, which opened the competition.

Cypriot athlete Iosif Kesidis delivered a throw of 74.16 metres to secure second place. Hungary’s Armin Szabados, who holds the season’s leading mark of 77.64 metres, won the event with a throw of 74.45 metres.

The silver medal marks Kesidis’ third consecutive podium finish at the European Throwing Cup. He previously won silver in Leiria in 2024 and gold in Nicosia last year.

Greece’s Giorgos Papanastasiou took third place with a final throw of 70.99 metres.

Several other Cypriot athletes also produced respectable performances, many of them young competitors making their first appearance at an event of this level.

Cypriot results

Iosif Kesidis (U23 Hammer Throw)

74.16m – 2nd place (Silver medal)

Throws: 73.23m, foul, foul, 74.16m, 68.56m, 73.70m

Eirini Jane Theodorou (U23 Javelin Throw)

43.40m – 13th place (out of 15)

Throws: 40.00m, 42.33m, 42.52m, 43.40m, 42.26m, foul

Kyriakos Vasileiou (U23 Shot Put)

14.87m – 16th place (out of 17)

Throws: 13.24m, foul, 14.59m, foul, 14.87m, 14.74m

Konstantina Antoniadou (Hammer Throw)

49.89m – 22nd place (out of 22)

Throws: foul, foul, 48.65m, foul, foul, 49.89m

Marina Hadjicosta (U23 Discus Throw)

50.42m – 8th place (out of 18)

Throws: 48.93m, 50.42m, 50.36m, 48.46m, foul, foul

Rafael Zacharia (Discus Throw)

52.85m – 21st place (out of 23)

Throws: foul, foul, 52.85m, 51.59m, 52.42m, foul

Kesidis Wins Silver as Rain Disrupts European Throwing Cup in Nicosia