Italian girls efficient at European Cup in Cluj Napoca

At the European Cup for Cadets in Cluj Napoca in Romanian, Italy was by far the most efficient country with four won finals. Hungary had six final positions but lost three, still won three titles and finished second in the ranking. Host Romania took two gold medals, same for Turkey and Georgia.

Romanian opened the series of finals with gold for Georgia Hagianu U40kg. The Italian girls were extremely strong with four gold medals starting on Saturday by Silvia Drago U44kg against Dutch Indy Godschalk. Timea Kardos (HUN) knows how to finish a final and took gold U48kg in an all Hungarian final. She won for the third time in Romania, quite a unique streak. She is now in a list of 10 athletes who ever won a IJF Cadet Continental Cup three times. Hidayet Heydarov is the only judoka who ever won a Cadet European Cup three times in two different countries. (GER-TUR).

Watch our all time list where Kardos is ranked in victories. 

Italy captured gold Veronica Toniolo won another good title in the final against Dutch Vera Raspe. But on Sunday the Dutch also won gold by ALexe Wagemaker. In total the Dutch team claimed 12 medals and was the most successful teams in terms of medals, but not as efficient as Italy, that won two more gold medals by Martina Esposito (what’s in a name) U70kg and Erica Simonetti in the heavyweight category +70kg. Hungary’s Szofi Ozbas defeated Marin Visser (NED) in the final U63kg.

In the boys division Turkey proved to have a good future with seven male medals. Gold for Ejder Toktay U55kg and gold for heavyweight Omer Aydin. But also the Georgian team took six medals and two golds. Luka Kapanadze is familiar with the top podium and he won gold U66kg. Ilia Sulamanadze took the victory U90kg. France though opened with gold on Saturday as lightweight Romain Valadier Picard defeated Balint Gombas (HUN). Belarus is starting to get traction in all age divisions, this time gold U18 by Ruslan Halavachou U60kg.

Gergely Nerpel won gold for Hungary on Sunday U73kg against Adrian Sulca. Host nation Romania lost three finals this weekend, but there was gold U81kg by Alex Cret U81kg. In total 546 athletes were in Cluj improving the record of 2015 with 484 participants. At 1 July the European Cadet Championships will take place in Sarajevo, so all cadets are in qualification mood, although most talents have been awarded their spot for Sarajevo to have an easy preparation.

Three cadet European Cup victories in one country

Hidayet Heydarov GER 3, TUR 3

Mikhail Igolnikov GER 3

Brigita Matic CRO 3 (home country)

Marusa Stangar CRO 3

Timea Kardos ROU 3

Sara Rodriguez ESP 3 (home country)

Madina Taimazova RUS 3 (home country)

Ilayda Seyis TUR 3 (home country)