The decisive moments took place in Lublin, where the home team benefited from the support of their fans in the stands of the Medical University Stadium. After an epic day, Poland is leading the Junior category, while Ukraine is the best in the Pre-Juniors.

Six gold medals out of a total of 11 on Friday put Poland at the top of the tournament, overtaking Ukraine, who were leading before yesterday's break. The medals take Poland's tally to 18, seven more than their nearest rivals (Ukraine), who have 11 (five+three+three), and 13 more than England, who have only five medals, three of them gold.

Poland won medals in the women's junior category with Michalik Julia, Papuga Olena, Owczarska Wiktoria, Kuć Natalia, Szczygielska Hanna and Kwapisiewicz Weronika, and in the men's junior category with Kula Patryk, Stepien Igor, Slian Mateusz, Brzoska Dawid, Książek Paweł and Nagielski Piotr.

Michell Wendykier and Nikola Mlodzieniak took first and second place respectively in the individual female Special Technique, while Poland also excelled in the individual female Junior Pattern 2nd Dan, with Świder Julia taking first place, and in the 1-2 achieved by Kuć Natalia and Papuga Olena in the individual female Junior Pattern 1st Dan.

Italy, who have been the overwhelming leaders in fan support and chants, although with consistent performances, secured a gold medal with the outstanding performance of Elena Mazzanti in the Female Junior Sparring over 45 to 49 kg.

In the Pre Juniors category, Ukraine had an excellent performance throughout the day, especially in the afternoon, where they secured many medals of all colours. A total of 10 medals, 21 in all, and seven of the most precious metals, are evidence of a historic effort in the category for the youngest competitors, demonstrating their significant growth and, above all, the enormous potential they have in this martial art.

Romania dropped to second place with 14 medals (four+five+five) and the home team finished the third day of junior competition with a total of 11 (three+four+four).

The competitions ended early as the AETF All Europe Taekwon-Do Federation Congress was due to start at 7pm at the Lublin Conference Centre, Artura Grottgera 2, 20-605 Lublin. Tomorrow's action continues at the University of Lublin Stadium from 9am and promises to be a special day full of excitement, with high-profile bouts on the programme, including those involving the senior national team.