Bogdan Iadov grateful for first European title

The French women were as expected strong at the first day of the European Championships in Sofia with three chances for gold, but in the end there was only one for the French as some nations were able to set historic records.

Shirine Boukli was the one who met all expectations and regained her title of 2020. In the final she defeated Portuguese Catarina Costa who did an attempt to become the second Portuguese woman to take the European title after Telma Monteiro who did it six times. Both athletes had never met before and struggled to find a gap in the defense, so the penalties were give to both sides. In the last minute it was Boukli who launched a perfectly timed sumi gaeshi which was enough for the victory. She beats Salens (BEL) with sumi-gaeshi and hold-down; Stojadinov (SRB) with a side-step uchimata; Figueroa (ESP) with a massive ogoshi; and Costa (POR) with yet another sumi-gaeshi. Boukli collected now two European titles, just as much as Sarah Nichilo, but not yet the numbers of Fred Jossinet (3) and Cécile Nowak (4), but with the age of 23, she has plenty of time to set new records.

Amandine Buchard walked straight into the final and was dominant throughout the day even against Olympic U48kg champion Distria Krasniqi in the quarter final. Buchard bested Gefen Primo in the semis and met with Chelsie Giles, another Olympic medallist. Giles overcame the surprising Mascha Ballhaus who kicked out Reka Pupp in the prelims. Giles was on good form and gave not much space to Buchard. Giles was about to write history as Great Britain didn’t celebrate a European title since 2006. Giles smelled a stunt and scored a wazari where Buchard couldn’t believe it was awarded to the British Olympian. But Buchard simply didn’t show her dominance when the most precious medal was at stake. Giles held down Kaleta (POL) for ippon; countered Giuffrida (ITA) for waza-ari; pinned Ballhaus (GER) with a Huizinga Roll; and threw Buchard with a low uchimata for waza-ari for the gold medal.

Was it then going to be two gold medals for France as Sarah Leonie Cysique qualified for the final U57kg, not a surprise. The surprises were the losses of European Champion Telma Monteiro and the debut of Daria Bilodid who couldn’t reach the quarter final as she lost to Priscilla Gneto, not a shame though. Bilodid will need to have rhythm, confidence and some results. She’s got the experience, the groundwork, the height advantage, but maybe not yet the final adjustments to skip a weight category. Cysique defeated Eteri Liparteliani (GEO) in the semi final and Timna Nelson Levy of Israel was her opponent in the final who actually won the last two encounters between the two. A nemesis for Cysique and it turned out to be as Nelson Levy had the fire in her to complete a mission to close a gap to become the second ever Israeli woman to take a European title since 1993.

The final was a gruellng contest against power woman Cysique but it was Timna Levy Nelson who scored waza ari and never gave that chance away followed by an unmatched celebration realising what she’s done here in Sofia. Nelson Levy armlocked Topolovec (CRO); threw Zemanova (CZE) with a hugging kosoto for ippon; used tewaza to score waza-ari on Starke (GER); and scored waza-ari with tsuri-goshi on Cysique (FRA).

Two Spaniards in the finals

In the lightweight category for men Yanislav Gerchev was the crowd’s favourite the whole day. Gerchev was twice in a European final, but could he do it again? The answer was yes and he set the hall on fire, but in that final his opponent was reigning European Champion Francisco Garrigos who had the determination to take a second European title. Both athletes didn’t give much away, but Garrigos kept focused and after winning the gold he showed the respect to the home crowd. He stole a historic chance for Bulgaria that celebrated a gold medal in 1978 for the last time. Garrigos though set records himself and is the only Spanish man ever with two European titles at an historic day for Spain, in fact the best ever for men in European history.

As not only Garrigos but also Alberto Gaitero Martin could take a European gold medal. His opponent in the final was the feared Ukrainian super talent Bogdan Iadov. Would he become the successor of Georgi Zantaraia who was brilliant in this category and won his last European title in 2019. In this time of war, Iadov was extra motivated and unbelievable focused. He had beaten Gaitero five times before and did it once more… in style. With brilliant o-uchi gari Iadov snatched the gold in a flash which gave his country a gold medal, it may not be the last success for himself. The feeling was extra special, such extra determination to win and showed his gratitude to those who have helped to support the Ukrainian athletes in the past period.