Austria cherishes two gold at Junior European Cup

Four Japanese women made the difference at the Junior European Cup in Leibnitz, but the real difference for the home nation was achieved by Michaela Polleres and Stephan Hegyi. For the first time since 2014 a gold medal and for the first time 2009 for a man and a woman.

An amazing event again with 516 judoka from 28 nations which included some young women of the Taisei junior and high school in Japan where Ami Kondo and Nami Nabekura, Ryuju Nagayama are all graduated from. Ena Matsui and Haruno Kumeda won gold on Saturday and on Sunday Aio Ogura and Yukari Miura took the gold medal, although they are from another club. Michael Polleres won her category U70kg. Interesting knock on the door as Austria just offered gold for Bernadette Graf this weekend in U78kg. Not likely it will be her new category, but Polleres at least keeps up the pressure. She defeated Marlene Galandi (GER) in the final today.

Austrian junior and U23 champion Stephan Hegyi is pushing Daniel Allerstorfer as heavyweight. Hegyi won gold +100kg after defeating Dutchman Jur Spijkers in the final. After bronze in 2015 and 2016, now gold for Hegyi. Those were the medals for Austria.

Marina Gilly of France won her category U44kg and was the only athlete to prolong last year’s title in Leibnitz. Betina Temelkova of Israel also won in La Coruna two weeks ago (U52kg) and is in a good shape, but the European Championships are in September in Maribor, a long time to go.

The category U57kg had a very good field with 48 women and the differences are tight, each time another winner. Seven different winners this season and they can beat each-other. In Leibnitz it was Acelya Toprak (GBR) who won the final match, for the second time a loss in the final for Pauline Starke, but perhaps she is the major favourite. Toprak confirmed she can get closer to Nekoda Smythe Davis in the future. Competition is good for both. It was a nice belated birthday gift for Toprak, or perhaps a motivation to give everything.

In the men’s division Russia and Kazakhstan both won two gold medals. A Kazach final U60kg won by Nursultan Serali and Sunggat Zhubatkan won U66kg. Today it was a silver day for Italy. In Bucharest at senior level 5 finals lost, in Leibnitz 3 finals lost. But at least one gold medal for Andrea Carlino U55kg. Alexandr Kolesnik claimed the gold U73kg against Giovanni Esposito. Tim Gramkow bested Christian Parlati U81kg.

An exciting final U90lg between German promise Eduard Trippel against Inal Taimazov. The prodigy won this match and won also the European Cup in St. Petersburg. Trippel is German senior (and U21) champion and was the man of the pre-season. Two good prospects to make a transition soon at senior level. For sure Dutchman Simeon Catharina is already on the radar for most seniors. He won his fifth junior European Cup in his career and is a record breaker. He is just 19, but for senior level you need a certain maturity in this weight class. His time will come.

Austria was satisfied with two gold medallist. New blood is welcome in Austria, especially in male success.