Lubjana Piovesana takes first British victory in Orenburg since 2010

Lubjana Piovesana was the only non-Russian woman who took a gold medal at the first day of the European Open in Orenburg. The British fighter took the victory in her category U63kg against Yauheniya Zaitsava of Belarus.

All other categories in Orenburg were won by Russian athletes who took 13 of the 16 available medals in the women’s division. This weekend in the ninth edition of the European Cup in Orenburg. Since 2010 no British judoka had won the European Cup in Russia.

Daria Pichkaleva won U48kg, she is also Russian U23 champion and she won three Junior European Cups. This time her first senior European Cup victory. Her first medal in the seniors.

The youngest winner was Nasiba Ibragimova (RUS) who captured gold U52kg. The 18-year old winner former EYOF medallist jumped from 7^th last year to the highest position. As a cadet she won two European Cups in Tver and was fifth in ST. Petersburg this year at junior level. Just like in U48kg it was a Russian clean sweep with four Russians on the podium.

Viktoriia Baidak won the category U63kg, her first medal in Orenburg although she competed more often.

Three different countries won the gold among the men, starting with a victory for Azerbaijan by Mehman Sadigov U60kg. He defeated his countryman Karamat Huseynov. Only the third Azeri victory in history. Hidayet Heydarov was the first  in 2016. A Russian victory for Paylak Galoyan U60kg in a final against Uzbek Azamat Matyakubov. Galoyan won his first ‘international’ medal in the seniors.

Nurlan Orazalin took gold in Orenburg after he defeated Naib Umarov (RUS) in the final U73kg. The Kazach judoka finally hits the gold after he tried many times at a more difficult level in various Grand Prixs and European Opens. Although his is in a huge competition in his own country for the top spots with Smagulov, Khamza, Sakenuly, Mukanov and Shaimerdenov who sometimes jump from U66kg to U73kg.