Tina Trstenjak back on the European podium

Slovenia’s Olympic Champion Tina Trstenjak won gold at the European Judo Championships 2021 in her women's 63 kg event in Lisbon. She defeated Russia's Daria Davydova in the final. Fellow Slovenian judoka Andreja Leški got a bronze in the same category earlier. Trstenjak hadn't won a European medal since 2018.

Trstenjak got the better of Davydova at the end of the match after a demanding contest. The 30-year-old already has two gold medals from the European Championships in 2017 and 2016. She was also a world champion in 2015. It was the third European title for Trstenjak, who took gold as well in 2016 and 2017. Clarisse Agbegnenou did not participate in Lisbon.

Slovenia's Andreja Leški meanwhile claimed bronze in the women's 63 kg or half-middleweight event at this year's European Championships, having beaten Poland's Agata Ozdoba-Blach. The 24-year-old Leški bagged one of the bronze medals in her event at the 2021 Judo World Masters held in Doha, Qatar.

Dutch talent Sanne Vermeer who lost against Trstenjak in the semi final caught the second bronze after her victory against Laura Fazliu (KOS) who surprised the seeded World bronze medallist Juul Franssen in the second round.

It was Slovenia’s second final as Kaja Kajzer won the silver medal in the women's 57 kg competition at the first day.