Russian men and Japanese women strong in St. Petersburg

Japan continued its domination at the European Cup for juniors in St. Petersburg, Russia. Also the second day Japan was able to add four gold medals to a total of nine. On Sunday Russia did manage to take two gold medals in the men’s categories U90kg and +100kg.

U90kg it resulted in an all Russian final between Robert Taimazov and Mikhail Igolnikov. It was Igolnikov who booked his seventh European Cup victory and his third win in St. Petersburg. In his second Junior year, he is still 19 years young and training with the senior teams of Russia. Today was a good motivation for him as at the top tournament Igolnikov had to face a few defeats. His talent though is undisputed and although he was successful at a young age, he is brought slowly due to the huge competition at senior level in his country.

Inal Tasoev is used to silver in the heavyweight category. He won silver at the World Cadet Championships, both individual as in the team event, and silver at the Russian junior Championships, but today in St. Peterburg he claimed the gold in the final against his rival Ruslan Shakhbazov. Another hot shot in this category, Tamerlan Bashaev won bronze, no place for Japan.

However U81kg and U100kg the category was a victim for Japan’s juniors. Sotaro Fujiwara, the world Junior silver medallist captured the gold against Giorgi Kurdiani and Kentaro Iida, who recently won bronze at the senior All Japan Championships, grabbed gold U100kg against World Cadet champion Simeon Catharina from the Netherlands.

In the women’s category France secured the first gold of the day when Romaine Rambot defeated Anastasia Kolyadenkova of Russia. French Yasmine Horlaville took a second medal for her country while Cadet World Champion Sanne Vermeer (NED) also took bronze U63kg.

In a clash of the tall women U78kg Anna Maria Wagner captured gold at this tough tournament in St Petersburg. The German police woman Wagner saw Jasmijn Lesterhuis of the Netherlands finishing second. The Dutch defeated Asian Champion Erena Yamamoto (JPN) in the semi final, who eventually took bronze. Wagner defeated bronze medallist Ilona Lucassen (NED).

Japan captured the remaining two gold medals U70kg where Remi Aoyagi in the final defeated Dutch Natascha Ausma who was also second in Uster this year and in Coimbra. Aoyagi knows how silver feels, she lost the World Junior title bout to Szabina Gercsak last year.

Heavyweight Maiko Inoue (JPN) won gold against Russian Anna Gushchina. Inoue also won last year in Wroclaw.

In total Japan captured 9 gold medals, followed by Russia with 3, France with 2 titles and Germany and Azerbaijan also had one champion in St. Petersburg. The golden Dutch team of Coimbra, now lost three finals, but the level in St. Petersburg was significantly stronger also experienced by the present Brazilian team that had to be satisfied with silver and two bronze despite a presence of 35 juniors, the second biggest team behind Russia.