Russia dominates European Cup Orenburg with 33 medals

Russia won a total of 33 medals at the European Cup for seniors in Orenburg. A massive number and with ten titles the Russian clearly dominated the tournament. For Canada it was a useful exercise towards the Grand Prix of Ekaterinburg next week taking three gold medals. Not just the women but also their men gave a good impression and loaded some confidence in the far East of Russia.

The Russian women won all the gold medals at the second day of the European Cup in Orenburg. Also the men were strong and captured two of the four titles. The Canadian men convinced with two gold medals. Etienne Briand logged a perfect record in the preliminary rounds with three wins in three matches. One year after his debut in this category he showed Jonathan Allardon the door in the semi-final, scoring an ippon against the French judoka. In the gold medal final, Briand pulled off the win by forcing Russia’s Alu Bochkaev to take two penalties.

Zachary Burt also started his day on a high note with three victories in the preliminary rounds. In the semi-final, he defeated Ihar Zhukau of Belarus by ippon. Burt continued his winning streak into the gold medal final, scoring an ippon against Russia’s Aliko Dzhilandze to clinch the victory.

Starting U81kg Etienne Briand defeated Russian opponent Alu Bochkaev in the final in Orenburg in a field 35 judoka.

Zachary Burt won the gold U90kg, also against a Russian opponent Aliko Dzhilandze. The other two finals were all Russian with Dmitry Dovgan who bested Arman Adamian in a strong field U100kg. Austrian Laurin Boehler won bronze, just like last year. Soslan Russian U23 Dhzanaev defeated Nikita Dibrin. Ruslan Shakhbazov and Jur Spijkers won bronze to give an impression of the strong field.

Of the 274 participants 133 were Russian, no wonder they took a lot of medals. In the women’s division it wasn’t different and the Russian women took all gold medals. The only category where another nations qualified for the final was U70kg where Davaasuren Munkhbat of Mongolia had a chance for the gold. Ekaterina Tokareva however snatched the gold again. Also last year she won the title in Orenburg. Alexandra Gimaletdinova defeated Tatiana Lialina in the final U78kg. Iulia Lianichenko overcame Anzhela Gasparian in the heavyweight final. The whole podium was Russian, a clean sweep.