First European Club title for Spain ever to Valencia Judo Club

Spanish Valencia Judo Club claimed the gold medal in the European Club Championships for women. The strong team was in the final against a super talented Serbian team of Slavia Novisad. The Serbians offered the crowd a thriller of a final against the experienced Spanish team from Valencia.

The women’s final was super exciting with Belgrade winner Andrea Stojadinov in the first match. The tiny Stojadinov took a surprise win against Laura Gomez. The European cadet bronze medallist stunted again this super year and she is just 16 years old.

Spanish Julia Figueroa made the equalizer against Jovana Rogic, which was another surprise, as Figueroa normally fights U48kg. But in general the score was expected to be equal after two matches

Isabel Puche scored ippon with good newaza one minute for the end against Tea Tintor. Now it was up to 19-year old Elvismar Rodriguez from Venezuela to finish the job for the Spanish team of Valencia. U70 was a very strong weight for the Spanish and a ‘ guaranteed’ key weight category to take points. Although against Sara Tintor nothing was secured yet. The 20-year old youngster kept the teen from Venezuela busy, but Tintor was behind two shidos and 90 seconds for the end even three. Disqualification was in the air and it was up to Tintor and her support to get an interesting last fight. Although she hold the nul, it was Rodriguez who captured the victory and the third decisive point for Valencia Judo Club.

In the last match Rochele Nunes finished her match in 75 seconds against Yelyzaveta Kalanina (UKR). The Brazilian has been very useful today at the most successful day for Spanish judo taking the first ever European Club title for women.

Also for the Serbian women it was a successful day with the first ever final for Serbia ever in the European Championships history. But there was bronze for the team of Yawara Newa of Russia who defeated their Russian colleagues of New Stream. The second bronze was for French team JC Pontault Combault defeating JC Vinkovci in their last match. Valencia was the second seeded team in the list and had a bye in the first round but progressed via SGS Judo and New Stream in the semi final.