Sebi Seidl on his way back with precious victory in Saarbrücken

Sebastian Seidl had a good comeback on home soil and won the European Cup in Saarbrucken. The 26-year policeman from Bayern recently returned from a March injury, but won all five of his matches today to win the first European Cup of his career.

The bronze medallist of the 2015 European Games celebrated his first international win. He has won many international medals, but never gold. Seidl survived a tough pool with Matthijs van Harten as first seed, Le Blouch, and Smetov. Spectacular was his victory over current World Champion U60kg Yeldos Smetov, taken over by Seidl, who reached the quarter final against Kilian Le Blouch (FRA). In the semi-final Aleksandr Kulikovskikh was defeated and in the final Belgian 23-year old Adlan Katchikaev was the surprising finalist.

The gold U60kg went to Bas Koffijberg. The Dutchman won the European Cup in Uster last year, but this one is even more precious. Koffijberg, brother of former European Junior champion Roy Koffijberg, bested Maritz Plafky, Germany’s hope in this division. Koffijberg defeated Fabian Haessner, Issam Bassou, and Plafky in the final. Plafky defeated Gusman Kyrgyzbaev in the semi-final.

Kazakstan did win gold, though. In the category U73kg Zhansay Smagulov defeated Saian Ondar, another strong man. There was not too much space for the strong German’s today, but there was still bronze for Anthony Zingg and Swiss Toni Allemann overcame Igor Wandtke, who finished fifth. Two years ago Smagulov won the Grand Prix in Budapest and won five medals in the IJF World Tour. Ondar won various events at this level.

In the women’s division Germany’s Verena Thumm remains a top fighter at this level. She won her eighth medal at a European Cup, but just her second victory. Previously, she won in 2015 in Uster. Thumm, a 2013 German champion, defeated Galiya Sagitova of Russia in the final. She bested Tamara Silva of Switzerland in the semi-final.

British Kelly Staddon won her U48kg lightweight division after she defeated Shirine Boukli (FRA) in the final. France won gold in the category U57kg. Sarah Harachi defeated Loredana Ohai of Romania in the final.

The gold for women U63kg went to Hannah Martin, who booked her second victory of the year. Previously, she won the Pan-American Open in Buenos Aires. Now she won in her second home country these days, Germany. It was a welcome victory in the days before her marriage to coach Miguel Ogando, who became trainer in Leipzig. Martin bested German Agatha Schmidt in the final by oseikomi. In an attractive field Diana Dzhigaros (RUS) and Lubjana Piovesana (GBR) won the bronze.

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