Surya takes Silver at Open Cup of Europe 2011

Surya on stage with the best of Russia: Elena, Ksenia, Lidiya, and Valentina
With a little more than 2 months of training in the 24kg snatch, Surya competed in the professional division (-68kg) and took second place after the sensational Tatiana Potemkin (World Champion from Kazakhstan) at the Open Cup of Europe this weekend!

The event was held at the Chelyabinsk Hockey Stadium
Perhaps the most spectacular Kettlebell Sport tournament in Europe this year, the Open Cup hosted by the great Ivan Denisov and sponsored by World Kettlebell Club, attracted the absolute best athletes from the world to the city of Chelyabinsk to fight for the title of IUKL European Open Cup Champion. In the words of our friend Valentin Egorov (who took second place after Johnny Benidze), this competition is “Part II of the Russian Championships.”

World Champion Alexander Khvostov congratulating Surya
Four new world records were set at this one event alone! In addition, the IC now has a new IUKL European Open Cup Silver Medalist… Congratulations Surya!

The Head Coach of the Russian National Team, Sergei Kirillov, was delighted by Surya's performance.
We want to thank our Coach Valery Fedorenko for always preparing us for the unexpected. He was there the entire time by cell phone to make sure we were 110% supported.

An enormous level of gratitude also goes to the athletes, coaches, and people of Russia (especially Chelyabinsk) and Kazakhstan for treating me and Surya like family. Their level of hospitality was unbelievable.

Silver Medalists, Ksenia (-63kg) and Surya (-68kg), of the 2011 Open Cup of Europe!
Finally, we want to award Ivan Denisov and his wife Yulia the title of World Record Holders in Event Promotion. This tournament was akin to the Miss America pageant – HUGE! Much more news to come when we return home.
Best,
Steven




Congrats Surya!!!
We are all jumping for joy for you at home Surya. Congratulations x 100000!!! As the hardest working and most humble kb lifter at the IC, your success continues to inspire us all!
congrats Surya!!!
Wooohoo!!! Congratulations Surya! We are so proud of your ability to raise the bar every time you compete. To say you are an inspiration simply isn’t enough. I am full of admiration and awe, every time I watch you train. It is such a joy to hear about your new accomplishments
xoxo
Very nice Surya !
Surya, wow, congratulations! I’m so impressed, happy for you and proud of you. Yay!!
Its so awesome to see strong women. What a role model for every woman! You rock!
Wow Surya, so impressive! Congratulations!!! I’ve always admired your spirit and strength, this is just another display of those qualities and evidence of such hard work. Go Surya!!
Surya, it’s such a privilege to know you and witness how hard you work, and yet how effortless you make it look. Soak it all in, it’s well deserved. In this household, we have so much respect for you and your efforts.
Congratulations Surya!!!
Amazing! You fly half way around the world–for a TEN MINUTE set. Just TEN MINUTES!!! That’s all you get. The fact that you perform so well under such crazy conditions is a wonder. So intense!
Congrats!!! (wait, I already said that!)
Awesome, Surya! Truly inspirational – that weight is no joke to snatch.
It is wonderful to hear of your awesome success at the World Cup–Your hard work in training is a great inspiration–Have a safe trip home and welcome back (btw get some well deserved rest too)
Congratulations Surya, this is an outstanding accomplishment, you should be very proud!! Good for you!
Lorna
Totally Amazed… Again!
AMAZING! Congratulations!!!
surya i am so lucky to have you as a teammate you are simply the best!! congrats
xoxo
congratulations on a world class performance!
wow…B E A U T I F U L. Congratulations! Dang Girl!!!!
Surya, You are absolutely inspirational. Congratulations on a beautiful performance.
Congrats Surya from the whole Giryatrija team Zagreb on a great result! Snatch with 24kg is no joke
you rock!!
Fantastic Surya! Congratulations from Portugal
Congrats, Surya, from Portugal and the Portugal Kettlebell Club! You really are an inspiration to all girls. Keep up with the hard work!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well earned and very well deserved! It is my honor to be associated with you and the rest of the IC Squad!
awesome AWESOME job!!!!!
Way to go Surya! You’re an inspiration in the gym and in life.
Awesome Surya!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! Numbers?
Surya: you are amazing. Congrats!
Surya – you are an amazing athlete, competitor and person – it is an honor to know you! Congratulations on yet another success! Woo Hoo!!!
Fantastic stuff, Well done Surya.
In honor of your worldwide awesomeness:
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What an warm homecoming!!I am deeply touched by all the kind words of support and celebration.Thank you!!
It was an incredible experience and I am truly humbled to have had the opportunity to lift with this caliber of athletes. To take the platform with Russia’s best female lifters, whom inspire me on a daily basis, was a rare opportunity and one which I am so glad I was brave enough embrace. ( Yes it did take bravery as I am very much aware of how much of a beginner I am in comparison to these ladies who have been setting the bar with the 24kg snatch). I believe that in order to become great in something you need to seek out and surround yourself with greatness. What better surroundings than the Open Cup of Europe. ( 4 new World records were set and Steve and I got to witness this!)
I know without a doubt I am already a better lifter as a result of this competition and have returned home inspired to take my lifting to the next level.
Thank you to Ivan and Yulia for organizing this incredible event, thank you to the people of Russia for welcoming us so warmly, and thank you to all the lifters who brought heart, flawless technique, and excitement to the platform! I cannot wait for the next opportunity to lift together.
Wow!! Congrats Surya! You go girl!
Incredible Surya, we are so proud! Congratulations!
Very very proud of you Surya! Wish we could have been there to see it live in action but I was lucky enough to get the play by play late on Friday night from Maya and I was literally jumping up and down cheering you on.
So excited both you and Steve took the chance to not only to travel such a great distance but to step on the platform. We are all inspired by your courage to get up there and do it!
p.s. Congrats to Steve as well for not only wearing the coaches hat, but the being documentor, competitor, and all that other behind the scenes stuff!
Hope you both get some rest too!
Surya Congratulations!
I’m not sure I can think of a more deserving person. In your training and your overall attitude towards competition and even your own success, you are a true role model. Congratulations!!! Can I get your autograph now ?!?!?!
I’m late with mine, but want to add my big CONGRATULATIONS and WOW!!! too!
Amazing, Congrats to YOU, u r an inspiration