Montenegro charges new energy in Sarajevo

The surprising winner of the European Cup in Sarajevo was the team of Montenegro. With three gold medals the re-installed member of the Judo Family was the most impressive nation in Bosnia Herzegovina. On Saturday Jovana Pekovic was on fire taking a gold medal U78kg. In the final Pekovic defeated British Emma Reid in a small field of six women.

Arso Milic was the man U81kg with a victory over Janosch Hunfeld in the final he celebrated gold and that was a long time ago for one of the prodigy’s of Montenegro judo six years ago when he captured European bronze among the cadets in 2012 and 2013 and bronze at the EYOF. He took bronze at world level in 2013. Milic couldn’t make the connection with the junior category. Although he won a European Cup for juniors, this senior gold is the first achieved at senior level. Despite Montenegro titles and Small states gold, Sarajevo was a good confirmation he can still make the level up. Milic won gold in a field of 36 men and defeated five opponents.

Slobodan Vukic took the gold +100kg with three athletes from Montenegro in the semi finals. Vukic bested Stefan Lutovac in the final and took the third gold for his country. It was the best ever performance for Montenegro in an European Cup. Only three times Montenegro was able to take two gold medals.

Three gold for Hungarian women

Also the team of Hungary did good business with three titles, all for the Hungarian women. Emoke Knetig defeated Tamara Silva (SUI) U52kg. Renata Lorinc could resist the pressure of Bosnian favourite Aleksandra Samardzic U70kg and Mercedesz Szigetvari took another heavyweight title defeating Katarina Vukovic (CRO) in the final.

Despite the loss of Silva, the Swiss team took gold U63kg as Carina Hildbrand bested Italian Chiara Cacchione in the final U63kg. Sister Andjela Samardzic won bronze for Bosnia Herzegovina. Elizaveta Stepanova captured gold for Russia U48kg against Croatian Sara Matijevic. Croatia was unlucky with three silver medals.

Beischmidt takes gold

Germany’s Ines Beischmidt was really happy with her gold medal U57kg and charged confidence for a next adventure. The German police woman defeated Tena Sikic of Croatia in the final U57kg. It was the first European Cup victory for Beischmidt and first victory in her category U57 coming from U52kg two years ago in which she won the German title.

Two Montenegro gold medals for men and six other nations won the gold. Matjaz Trbovc of Slovenia opened the series with a victory over Alon Aharon U60kg. Denis Jurakic bested another Israeli fighter in Omer Shaiman U66kg. Lasha Lomidze hold off Schamil Dzavbatyrov (GER) for the title U73kg, but Germany’s Tim Schmidt won the gold U90kg against Miroslav Blahusiak of Slovakia. Anton Savytskiy bested Finnish Jaakko Alli in the final U100kg.

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