Hugo Arillo reflects on a silver European finish and next steps

One of the favorites, it delivered as expected, reinforcing its status as a dependable pick in the province’s sports scene. Hugo Arillo, from Elche and 20 years old, left Albania with a proud silver medal from the European Under-21 Taekwondo Championships, a result he views with mixed but mostly positive sentiment. He explains that two weeks earlier he had strained the large inner muscle of his left leg and spent the tournament battling lower back discomfort. Because of those physical challenges, he believes he did not perform at his best in this European event. Still, the medal feels meaningful, especially since he had hoped for gold after advancing to the third game. In the quarter-finals of the third round, he defeated a Turkish opponent who has already posted high-profile results on major international stages and is clearly aiming for Paris 2024. Arillo acknowledges that the final didn’t showcase his peak form, and luck didn’t favor him in the second round after an early stumble, yet the overall outcome remains satisfying, according to his statements on the FER Project site.