**Title: Cyprus Celebrates Historic Medal Wins at Commonwealth Games**
Cyprus marked a significant milestone at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Monday, securing two medals in athletics. Hammer thrower Iosif Kesidis and hurdler Milan Trajkovic delivered outstanding performances, bringing home silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Iosif Kesidis, a promising 20-year-old athlete, achieved Cyprus' first medal of the Games in the hammer throw event. He recorded a throw of 76.97 meters, which placed him second overall, just behind Canada’s Olympic champion Ethan Katzberg. Kesidis faced challenges during the competition, including a foul on his opening attempt. However, he demonstrated resilience by improving with each subsequent throw. His second throw positioned him in the medal standings, and he solidified his silver medal position with a strong third throw. This achievement marks the first medal of Kesidis' career at the Commonwealth Games.
In the same event, Alexandros Poursanidis, the bronze medalist from the previous Commonwealth Games, also competed but finished seventh with a best throw of 66.79 meters. Poursanidis expressed disappointment in his performance but took pride in the success of his younger teammate, Kesidis.
Shortly after Kesidis' achievement, Milan Trajkovic added to Cyprus' medal tally by finishing third in the men’s 110 meters hurdles final. Trajkovic clocked a season-best time of 13.32 seconds, narrowly missing his personal best of 13.25 seconds. The race was won by Jamaica’s Demario Prince, who took gold with a time of 13.17 seconds, while England’s Samuel Bennett secured silver in 13.30 seconds. For Trajkovic, this bronze medal is particularly significant as it represents Cyprus' first-ever medal in a track event at the Commonwealth Games and marks his first medal in his fourth appearance at the competition.
The two medals won by Kesidis and Trajkovic are notable as they represent the ninth and tenth medals earned by Cypriot athletes in the history of the Commonwealth Games. The achievements underscore a growing legacy in athletics for the island.
In addition to the successes in athletics, Cyprus also had representation in weightlifting. Dimitra Ioannou competed in the women’s 58kg category, finishing in tenth place with a combined total lift of 160kg, which included 70kg in the snatch and 90kg in the clean and jerk. The gold medal in this category was claimed by Nigeria’s Rafiatu Lawal, who set a Games record with a total lift of 229kg.
The medal ceremonies for Kesidis and Trajkovic are scheduled for Tuesday, where they will be recognized for their remarkable achievements. The performances of these athletes not only highlight their individual talents but also contribute to the growing recognition of Cyprus in international athletics.