Montenegro claims home victory at small states championships

Montenegro is the best Small State judo nation of Europe. The host of the 2019 Small State Championships took three gold medals and took over the lead of Monaco that also proved to be a true judo nation. With two gold medals and two silver and three bronze, Monaco finished second. Obviously inspired and trained in French competition the athletes were real medal catchers at the Small State Championships in Budva, Montenegro.

Also Cyprus and Liechtenstein were able to catch two gold medals. The Mediterranean isle Cyprus showed it is progressing in judo. Among the nine competing nations, Cyprus captured gold U60kg for men by 17-year old Georgios Balarjishvili and 18-year old Sofia Asvesta U52kg.

Host Montenegro celebrated gold for Nikola Gardasevic U73kg in an attractive weight category. Cyprus took silver U81kg as Tizie Gnamien defeated Aristos Michael in the final. Liechtenstein took a surprising gold medal U90kg by Raphael Schwendinger in the final against Iceland’s Egill Blöndal.

Florine Soula of Monaco won the gold medal U63kg against Rania Drid who finished second in the poule. 16-year old Mareen Hollenstein took the second gold medal for Liechtenstein as she won the women’s U70kg class and gave Liechtenstein a surprising position in the medal table.

The last gold medal fight was decisive for the medal ranking among nations. Montenegro’s Danilo Pantic grabbed gold and defeated Georgios Kroussaniotakis of Cyprus. It was a fight who of the nations won the medal table. The home team was supported by the crowd and former Balkan champion and runner-up of the European Cup in Dubrovnik Pantic claimed the gold and victory for his nation.

Watch the correct medal table for nations.