Walide Khyar warms up with gold at European Cup Malaga

Current European Champion Walide Khyar was a logical winner of the European Cup in Malaga in the category U66kg, although one category higher than his usual weight. In Malaga he defeated Puerto Rican Augusto Miranda. Khyar (21) never competed at a senior European Cup, but today was an exception on his way back, his first event after the Olympic Games.

France was the strongest nation after one day of judo at the European Cup in Malaga, the last in a series of 10 events. The French took 8 medals and were highly efficient with four gold medals and three silver due to two all French finals. Italy won two weight categories, Germany one victory.

Khyar uses this European Cup to start up the season. "Normally I would have started in Russia at the Golden League (The European Club Championships) in Grozny, but our club didn't get the visa, so I used Malaga as preparation. My first big event will be the Grand Slam of Tokyo and of course I will fight U60kg by then. This was just to start up for me."

Daniel Lombardo captured the title U60kg and bested Joran Schildermans of Belgium in the final. It was his first European Cup victory in his career. He followed up brother Manuel who won the same category last year. 

Italy had a Malaga takeover with three medals on the stage U73kg Augusto Meloni took the gold medal and was accompanied by teammates Emanuele Bruno and Leonardo Casaglia, both bronze. Meloni defeated Samuel N’ Zingo (FRA) in the final.

France won the first three women’s categories by French champion Melanie Clement U48kg (her fourth European Cup victory), Aurelia Issoumaila U52kg and Priscilla Gneto U57, who made it a beautiful family weekend where her younger sister won the crown in Abu Dhabi’s Grand Slam. Germany’s Vivian Herrmann defeated Isabel Puche of Spain in the final U63kg. Herrmann prolonged her title of last year in Malaga.