History in the making at first day in Lignano

Italian power from the Juniors was expected at the Junior European Cup in Lignano. The Italians took three of the seven available titles at the first day on Saturday. Austria was satisfied with two gold medals, The Netherlands and Germany both captured one gold medal in Italy. In total 292 athletes are gathered for the third European Cup of the season, the lowest number in ten years time in Italy.

One good reason why the Italians are so strong is that there are 15 nations less this edition in Lignano. The other reason is that the Italian juniors have always been very strong, let alone supported by fans, parents and present athletes. In both cadets, juniors and seniors, Italy is still growing in dominance.

Valerio Accogli was the one who claimed the gold for Italy in U66kg, after five years, that weight category if back to Italy. The last man to win U66kg was Manuel Lombardo, now fighting U73kg. In the final Accogli defeated Driss Masson Jbilou of France in the final.

The second title for the home country was for Luigi Centracchio, in fact the fourth men in the elite team of the Italian seniors. He already gained a silver at senior level in Prague this years, he was expected to shine in his own Lignano. In the final Gergely Adorjani of Hungary lost to Centracchio, for sure supported by his family. It was even 11 years ago that an Italian won this category in Lignano, Massimiliano Carollo was the last in 2011. Great winners who are now seniors such as Sami Chouchi, Tohar Butbul and Makhmadbek Makhmadbekok, all World Tour winners.

Italian heavyweight Asya Tavano captured the gold in the heavyweight. You’d think Italy dominates that category in Lignano, but also that was 7 years ago (Eleonora Geri). Tavano bested Dutch talent Carmen Dijkstra in the final. In total Italy medalled 6 times of 56 medals.

The Austrians did well with two gold medals. One for lightweight Marcus Auer who defeated Belgian Emile Merdin U60kg. Laura Kallinger won the women U63kg against Italy’s opposition from Agnese Zucco.

Germany’s Samira Bock won the U70kg category, a typical division where Germany is always strong. Those were our thoughts, but in fact Bock is the first ever winner U70kg in the history of the European Cup in Lignano. Italy’s Alice Bellandi won twice, last year Martina Esposito won the gold. Olympic silver medallist Michaela Polleres in 2015. It says enough about the reputation of the tournament. Bock won in the final of Julie Zarybnicka (CZE).

The last weight category U78kg we didn’t discuss was for tall Dutch girl Lieke Derks who is growing despite the opposition in her own country. She continues to develop and play her own game successfully. Derks bested French Ilana Bouvier in the final.

With a little luck, these fighters will be seen in the IJF Tour in a couple of years. For sure someone will break out to world level. In the past this tournament in Lignano was won by world level athletes such as Rafaela Silva, Matthias Casse, Nemanja Majdov, Anna-Maria Wagner, Barbara Matic to name a few world champions and Olympic medallists.