French new seniors take gold medal at International Women Open in Herstal

Four winning nations at the International Women Adidas Open of Herstal last weekend with Japan, France and Germany all catching two gold medals and Great Britain won gold via Chelsie Giles U52kg. For host Belgium Sandrine Billiet took a bronze medal U63kg. That division was won by Haruka Kaju of Japan.

The Japanese team brought in some strong youngsters. Also Kana Tomizawa captured the gold medal in her category U57kg. Strong French ace Treicy Etiennar got injured on her knee and Gaetane Deberdt and Maryline Louis Sidney won the medals for France.

Interesting was the title for Szaundra Diedrich in the U70kg category. She needed this event to get back in condition as her rivals in Germany (Scoccimarro, Buttkereit and Vargas-Koch) are internationally strong and all around the top 30 of the world. Paris comes too early for Diedrich, but the gold medal was a satisfying motivation. In Herstal, close to men’s event in Visé, Diedrich bested Lucie Perrot of France in the final. Germany was also strong in the women’s U78kg, it actually looked like a German Championships with Teresa Zenker as the winner. The final was between Zenker and Christina Faber with Julie Hoelterhoff as bronze medallist alongside Shelly Ludford (GBR). Chelsie Giles overcame Doriane Colman in the final U52kg.

Sephora Corcher of France looked strong in Herstal in her category U48kg, but the full podium was French with Julie Weill Dit Morey, Jade Desbuis and Manon Urdiales. It gave France the victory in the medal table with 10 medals. Also the last gold medal was for a French woman, Morgane Duchene defeated Merel Barkman (NED) +78kg. In this field lonely stars like Sandrine Billiet (BEL), Mina Agneta Ricken (GRE), Laerke Marie Olsen (DEN) and Megan Fletcher (IRE) were happy to take the only medal for their country.

Watch the photos online.