Clerget and Salanki cherish European Cup victory in Orenburg

The European Judo Cup in Orenburg delivered a gold medal for Hungarian Evelin Salanki U78kg. She defeated Russian Antonina Shmeleva. French Axel Clerget won the category U90kg. Russia won 8 gold medals in total, France finished second with three titles. Belarus, Bosnia and Hungary were good for one title.

Salanki was very pleased with her winning performance: "I am very-very happy, this is my first gold medal at the European Judo Cup." Her coach, Neu Gabor, said: "We are always happy to come and take part in the European Cups which are held in Russia in Orenburg and in St. Petersburg, as well as to stay at the training camps after these competitions. This is a great and rewarding experience. The sportsman of the Russian team have very unique judo technique, it is not like ours. It is European style but at the same time is very effectively", Neu expressed his view.

Antonina Shmeleva (RUS) won a silver medal in the -78kg category also commented on: "Fighting at the final, I felt that my physics is not enough to win, because i have to fight much more quickly to be in advance. I was thrown for yuko and after I was not able to turn it around. This is a good lesson for me. I have to practice more intensively to win on the future competitions."

The winner in the -90kg Axel Clerget (FRA) shares his impressions of the tournament and the results of his own performance: "I try to do all the best to be better every day, knowing that sooner or later I will become the best. Here in Orenburg, my work have found reality and I became the champion."