European Cup Celje hosted many former champions

At the European Cup in Celje 25 nations will get together with more than 300 athletes to fight for 56 medals. It’s the eleventh edition of this European Cup in Slovenia, however with the second lowest amount of athletes in 11 years, only in 2015 there were less participants. Attraction on Saturday is Daria Bilodid picking up some rythme.

Still some categories will have some severe competition such as the women U63kg with 30 judoka and men’s U73kg with 37 athletes. Only teen star Daria Bilodid is the only athlete of the world top 20 be fighting in Slovenia, but the next generation will be present. Russian Arman Adamian (WRL-35) will be the top contender U100kg. The number two of the World Junior Championships won the European Cup in Orenburg this year. Celje is the sixth European Cup of the nine this season. Cheyenne Mounier (FRA), Margaux Pinot (FRA), Roy Koffijberg (NED), Bosko Borenovic (SRB) and Timo Allemann (SUI) all won two European Cups this season.  Among the participants former winners Moritz Plafky (GER) and Kevin Nanor (FRA) to name a few men. From Japan Hotomi Sakaguchi who won last year and this time defends her title in Celje

Coach Rok Draksic won the tournament himself four times and is male ‘topscorer’ in the all-time history. For women Lucija Polavder won seven cups, but it’s Urska Zolnir who won eight times… in a row 2005-2012.

Follow the tournament in Celje this weekend.