Switzerland celebrates first cadet judo gold at Europeans

Swiss talent Binta Ndiaye became the first woman ever to take a European title for Switzerland at Cadet level. In Riga Ndiaye defeated Giulia Carna of Italy in the final for girls U52kg and steps into the footlight Swiss talents such as Lena Goeldi and Fabienne Kocher who won a European Junior title a long time ago. Binta won the European Cups in Teplice and Bucharest in July and kept her shape until Riga where she needed just two minutes to defeat her Italian opponent for ippon.

Israelian Kerem Primo, sister of World bronze medallist Gefen Primo, took the gold medal for cadets in Riga. Kerem Primo defeated Olga Mukhina of Russia in the final for women U57kg. It was the second gold medal for Israel this tournament. Kerem Primo became the fifth Israelian female talent who captured the European title. Tatyana Simantov (2002), Alice Schlesinger (2004), Shahar Levy (2005) and Raz Hershko (2015) won the title before Kerem.

Nele Noack showed previously this season she was well in shape and in the final for girls U63kg she started right away against Kenza Cossu of Luxembourg. With her strong grip she decided the contest with a second good score. Noack captured the European title and became the 17^th female European cadet champion for Germany and the second U63kg since Lara Reimann took gold in 2014. Still no guarantee for the future, but certainly a good motivation. The same can be said for Cossu who is the first medallist for Luxembourg at Cadet Championships ever. Well… in 1967 there was a male medal in a total other era and century. This performance of Cossu is an excellent motivation for all talents. Luxembourg organizes the Junior European Championships this year.

Timur Arbuzov captured the gold medal U66kg for Russia. Arbuzov defeated Strahinja Males from Serbia in the final in a field of 35 young men which made it the most competitive category at these youth Championships. Males was the first Serbian male finalist since Nemanja Majdov in 2013 took a bronze medal. Strahinja Buncic was the only Serbian man who captured the Cadet title alongside three women. Males already showed great form at the European Cup in Teplice in the beginning of July.

Russian middleweight Rolan Kunizhev claimed the title in his division U73kg. In the final he defeated another Serbian athlete, Dusan Grahovac. Kunizhev had won the European Cup in Porec in June and again showed his skills. In Porec Grahovac finished with bronze, this time he lost his last contest but could be satisfied about the Serbian performances in general. The senior generation seems to give a good example for the cadets to mingle in the top talents of Europe as well.