Berck-Sur-Mer 2018: Nazmiye Muratli vs. Lidiia Soloviova

The European Open Championships will feature an epic battle between Rio 2016 Paralympic champions Nazmiye Muratli and Lidiia Soloviova.

It will be the first time in eight years that the two rivals compete against each other at a major competition as Muratli decided to move up one category to the women’s up to 50kg ahead of Berck-Sur-Mer 2018.

The last time they met was in the up to 40kg at the 2010 World Championships, with Muratli taking gold ahead of Soloviova, who claimed silver.

They also face-off at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, with the Ukrainian topping the podium and Muratli coming in fourth.

At Rio 2016, the latter took gold in the up to 41kg, while Soloviova was crowned champion in the up to 50kg.

Soloviova (up to 50kg) did not have a good performance at the Mexico City 2017 Worlds, ending out of the podium at a major international competition for the first time in her career. Muratli (up to 45kg), on the other hand, sealed silver.

Head to Head

PERSONAL INFO

Muratli: Nationality: Turkey. Age: 38

Soloviova: Nationality: Ukraine. Age: 40

PARALYMPIC GAMES

Muratli: Games: 3 (2008, 2012, 2016)

Medals: 2 (2 golds)

Soloviova: Games: 5 (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)

Medals: 5 (3 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Muratli: Championships: 2 (2013, 2015)

Medals: 2 (2 golds)

Soloviova: Championships: 2 (2013, 2015)

Medals: 1 (1 gold)

DID YOU KNOW?

Muratli: A sports facility has been named after her in the Turkish municipal district of Konya Meram

Soloviova: Her parents gave her up for adoption soon after she was born. Later in life, she was reunited with her birth mother who recognised her from media coverage of her sporting success.

For more information about the European Open Championships in Berck-Sur-Mer, visit the event website.