Strong field at Junior European Cup in Berlin

Russia is traditionally the strongest European nation among cadets and juniors and usually also in the senior division. The Junior European Cup in Berlin is always a good benchmark to see the strength of European nations. Also the Japanese bring in a team as well as Brazilians, so Berlin is the one to peak if you want to qualify for the European and World Championships later this year.

Again Russian topped the medal tally but not so dominant, Japan followed, both with three gold medals. There were nine winning nations, which seems a healthy distribution. Japan and Russia dominated the men’s divisions where all six titles were demanded by the two strong teams. Kazbek Naguchev continues to show off in his category U66kg. In the final he defeated Luka Kapanadze of Georgia. Matvey Kanikovsky won his division U100kg against Daniel Eich of Switzerland. Heavyweight Dhzamal Gamzatkhanov won the third gold medal for Russia.

Azerbaijan opened the men’s division with gold for Ahmed Yusifov in an all Azeri final against Rovshan Aliyev. The remaining gold medals were for Japan. Ryo Tsukamoto won gold U73kg, Kensei Yamanaka U81kg and Koshi Nagai U90kg. Likely those are the ones expected at the World Championships this year in Marrakech.

Berlin is the 11^th event for Juniors in Europe followed by Poznan next week and Cluj in two weeks time to close the European tour.

France won two gold medals among the women, but Germany’s Dena Pohl opened with gold on Saturday U63kg. Pohl defeated Annabelle Winzig. Germany qualified for the final U70kg with Marlene Galandi but it was Kelly Petersen-Pollard who once again showed how talented she is and she crowned the season with gold in Berlin. Silja Kok of the Netherlands came back strongly in the repechage and won bronze together with Goia Vetterli who defeated Kok in the second round.

Dutch woman Renee Van Harselaar defeated her compatriot Kim Hooi in the U78kg final. Another silver for the host nation for women +78kg when Samira Bouizgarne lost the final to Tahina Durand of France.

On Sunday Tugce Beder of Turkey took the gold medal U48kg in a competitive category with Shirine Boukli of France who took silver. Natasha Ferreira (BRA) and Mireia LaPuerta Comas won bronze. Check the results for yourself, as the whole top 8 was strong. Also 52kg was strong with gold for Faiza Mokdar, she’s won so much but this one in Berlin feels good in the juniors. Nadezda Petrovic stays in line with the expectations taking silver.

Brazil captured gold U57kg by Vitoria Andrade after she defeated Josie Steele (GBR). Dutch women Pleuni Cornelisse and Shannon van de Meeberg took the bronze.

Next stop Poznan in Poland. Find the most successful junior in our stats generator.