European Judo Championships Preview U78kg: Steenhuis and Tcheumeo poised to win

Since March this year Dutch woman Guusje Steenhuis is the world’s number one in the IJF Ranking. She gained many points in the Grand Slams and added valuable points in Paris and Baku this year. Who is her main rival? It could be any of the seeded players.

Without her Dutch competitor Marhinde Verkerk who went to the Olympic Games, Steenhuis might be relieved of some pressure and peak again where the points are for grab.

Steenhuis won European Games bronze in 2015 and medals at European U23 and World Junior Championships. Steenhuis knows exactly how to peak when the points can help her further.

Audrey Tcheumeo of France won it all, European titles, World title and an Olympic medals. Compared to all others she is the most decorated. Does it make her the number one favourite? Maybe, at least she is stable in the world top for years. Tcheumeo was in the final of the Olympic Games in 2016 against Harrison and she won Olympic bronze in 2012 in London. She became World Champion 2011 in Paris, took silver in 2014 and bronze in 2013. Tcheumeo won European and World team titles with the French team. She won her third Grand Slam in Paris in 2017. We think the answer is yes.

Hungarian Abigel Joo is always dangerous. With her height she can hit anyone with her strong throws, but it’s up and down, but pretty good this for the last 16 months. She won bronze at the European Open in Oberwart in 2017 bronze at the Grand Slam in Baku in 2017 and started well in 2016, but the Olympic Games weren’t a success. Don’t forget she won two European titles in 2010 and 2012.

Natalie Powell won European bronze last year in Kazan. As fourth seeded Welsh woman may be in the race for a medal, but couldn’t convince since the Olympic Games where she finished seventh.

The danger might come from the new generation. Klara Apotekar of Slovenia and Anastasiya Turchyn are in a good shape, but don’t seemed to be able yet to beat the world top in Steenhuis and Tcheumeo.

STEENHUIS Guusje (NED) 1. seed (1. place WRL)

TCHEUMEO Audrey (FRA) 2. seed (3. place WRL)

JOO Abigel (HUN) 3. seed (5. place WRL)

POWELL Natalie (GBR) 4. seed (6. place WRL)

APOTEKAR Klara (SLO) 5. seed (16. place WRL)

TURCHYN Anastasiya (UKR) 6. seed (18. place WRL)

STEVENSON Karen (NED) 7. seed (22. place WRL)

GALEONE Assunta (ITA) 8. seed (26. place WRL)