Tough draw for European Juniors in Porec

This week the more than 700 of the best young judoka are present in Croatia’s coast city Poreč for two European Championships in one week. Unique and forced but corona gave Porec the opportunity to organise the Junior Europeans followed by the Championships for senior talent U23 years. The championships will be held with exceptional epidemiological measures.

356 Athletes from 37 countries are at the start of the Junior European Championships, with more than 200 boys and 152 girls. Croatia has a reputation organising events in these difficult circumstances. The European Cup in Dubrovnik was organized recently as well as national championships and a regional training camp.

There will be no spectators in the stands of the Intersport hall where in 2012 Porec was also host of the European Junior Championships. In that time Croatia captured three silver medals, by athletes who have become senior athletes. Barbara Matic won the Grand Slam in Budapest last week for Croatia and took silver in 2012. Croatia will deliver 16 athletes for the Junior tournament.

Strong athletes at the start as Andrea Stojadinov (SRB) highly favoured to win the title U48kg in Croatia. French Faiza Mokda could face Naomi van Krevel (NED) in the final U52kg. Another Serbian Marica Perisic impressed at senior level, but can still compete at Junior level U57kg. Szofi Ozbas is the biggest Hungarian ace and may win the U63g category but is in a tough pool with other youngsters. Anja Obradovic (SRB) is another strong rival, so the Serbian women have a strong team.

An amazing result of the draw with two very dominant rivals at their previous cadet level came together in the pre-rounds. An exceptional situation with both medal candidate will have to battle for qualification for the quarter finals: Ai Tsunoda (ESP) vs Yael van Heemst (NED). With Israels Maya Goshen they are candidate for gold U70kg. Another Dutchie, Renee van Harselaar is number one seed U78kg and may need to battle with her compatriot Kim Hooi. France always have great heavyweights, Lea Fontaine is number one seed +78kg.

Sad is that some countries couldn’t compete such as Great Britain, the Flemish team from Belgium and the strong team of Germany among other nations. Especially for the women’s tournament that will have an impact.

It will give space to other countries, also in the men’s division with Turkish Salih Yildiz U60kg. U66kg Russian will be strong, Georgia and the Netherlands are expected on the podium. Russia will have a strong team in any age class but U73kg they are well presented as well as Italy. Clearly former Soviet countries dominate the men’s divisions, also in U81kg with Vladimir Alkhatsi from Georgia and David Karapetyan from Russian. At the third day the men’s categories of U90kg, U100kg and +100kg will battle with strong Hungarians, Russian athletes and traditionally Georgia can be strong.