Kelly Petersen-Pollard confirms strength with European title

Four winning nations today at the Junior European Championships in Vantaa with another victory for Georgia that was dominating the men’s U81kg weight class with an All Georgian final. Tato Grigalashvili was the expect man to shine and with Vladimir Alkalkatsi in the slipstream the Georgians can be satisfied about day two.

The U81kg class is always a difficult and crowded class. With 37 men this tournament is not an exception. Grigalashvili was already bronze medallist at the World Championships for juniors in 2017 and took silver last year, this time he was ready for the gold for his country.

Victor Sterpu was the man for Moldova. The small country keeps surprising and this time Sterpu was able to beat David Gamosov of Russia in the final and catch the gold medal. He is the first Junior European Champion for his country since Sergiu Toma won the title in 2005. Toma won Olympic bronze 11 years later in Rio.

Szofi Ozbas goes on and on and added another major title on her impressive career list. The Hungarian this time caught the European junior title. She already won the Youth Olympic title in 2018 and cadet European title in 2017 so this simply fits the ambitious line. Hungary remains strong in this age class and Ozbas follows up Mercedesz Szigetvari as European champion (+78kg). Ozbas defeated Annabelle Winzig of Germany in the final U63kg.

Kelly Petersen Pollard took the European title as expected in the girls  U70kg class. She is the most successful junior this season so far and the British was able to hold off European Cadet Champion Ai Tsunoda of Spain. Pollard is the first ever European Champion for her country in this class U70kg. Lucy Renshall was the last Briton to take the title.