Georgian heavyweights shine at Junior European Cup in Poznan

Georgia was the best country in Poznan at the Junior European Cup. With four gold medals the Georgian team celebrated the victory in the medal table. Azerbaijan and Ukraine captured two gold medals in Poland. The host itself claimed seven medals including a silver medal. Coach Irakli Tsirekidze was despite all his prizes an enthusiastic face on the podium picture with the Georgian heavyweights.

Let’s start with Georgia’s dominance, especially in the heavyweight category where the Georgian men booked a clean sheet, four countrymen on the same podium. Irakli Demetrashvili defeated Ucha Tabatadze while Giorgi Tabatadze and Shalva Gureshidze joined the all Georgian podium.

In fact there was also an all Georgian final U81kg between Aleksandre Loladze and Alexandre Gulbiani. Internationally we know how strong the Georgians are U100kg and there is new talent underway with Mikheil Japaridze (GEO) who defeated Kazach Zhurkamyrza Shukurbekov.

Kazachstan itself dominated U60kg with two lightweights in the final. Merey Markhanbetov defeated Nurkanat Serikbayev. And U66kg another Kazach, but he took silver Nursultan Zaizagaliyev lost to Aleko Kasradze. Georgia lost the final though U73kg where Anton Shuhalieiev (UKR) overcame Kote Kapanadze (GEO) in a field of 49 young athletes.

We know Vugar Talibov (AZE) as a judoka who fought in all almost weight categories in four years’ time U66kg, U73, U81 and on Sunday he won gold U90kg in his final against Roy Sivan (ISR).

Seven countries win gold

It was different in the women’s division with seven different countries winning gold.

17-Year old Pauline Cuq (FRA) took the lightweight gold U48kg against Konul Aliyeva (AZE). Cuq was the youngest winner of this weekend. British Hannah Wood was able to overcome Yarden Raab (ISR). Italian Veronica Toniolo gave Azerbaijan a second loss after she beat Sabina Aliyeva (AZE) U57kg. It was the tenth victory for Italy in the Junior European Cups this season being the most successful team in Europe. But it was Aytaj Gardashkhanli of Azerbaijan who claimed the gold U63kg against Polish Agata Palka who was the best performing Polish athlete of this weekend.

Julie Zarybnicka of Czech Republic who captured her second victory this season after she beat Ugne Pileckaite (LTU). In March she won the European Cup in Athens, also U70kg.

Portugal Fabia Conceicao (POR) seems to be a worthy successor of Patricia Sampaio soon. Conceicao defeated Yuli Alma Mishiner (ISR), who was sent to the second Israelian silver medal.

Heavyweight Diana Semchenko (UKR) was the best among four women +78kg where Tiziana Marini (ITA) came second.

It was the second edition in Poznan with 288 athletes, more than 100 more than in 2019.