France and Netherlands divide the junior titles in Nanterre

At the Junior European Cup in Nanterre, close to Paris the French juniors proved to be very strong. The French youngsters claimed four out of the seven titles today. Two gold medals went to France, Germany captured one title.

Let’s start with Germany’s Sarah Mehlau (GER) who claimed the title U70kg in an all German final against Samira Bock. In a field of 25 women Mehlau was the strongest. Secondly is one of the youngest winners, aged 19. Noelia Insua Iglesias and Tanja Gruenewald another German took bronze.

It wasn’t a surprise that Yael Van Heemst took the title in France U78kg. It was in the final against her compatriot Lieke Derks who also performed well. The French couldn’t catch both but took two bronze medals for Lyse Versmisse and Oceane Zatchi Bi. For Van Heemst it was her first European Cup victory this year, last year she won two events, but she usually competes at senior level and debuted at the Grand Slam this year.

Another Dutch women’s title was for Carmen Dijkstra (NED) who took the gold +78kg. Dikstra who was also the winner in Coimbra, was on the podium alongside the French women. Dounia Nacer who lost to Dijkstra in the final. Lea Machut and Laurie-Laure Lobe both won their last match in a field of nine young women.

The French women did win gold though. In the category U63kg it was Melkia Auchecorne who defeated Viktoria Folger of Germany in the final. Spanish Laura Vazquez and French Julie Falgon bagged a bronze medal today in Nanterre.

In the men’s division France was all mighty with all three gold medals.

Enzo Jean resisted Turan Bayramov (AZE) in the final. The Azeri are always strong but in fact at senior level France is back in U60kg with Mkheidze and Revol taking Olympic and European bronze. Those guys are the examples of Enzo Jean as today’s champion. For bronze another two Frenchmen took the medals: Roland Antonin Elion Gambou and Raphael Adriano received the bronze medal.

It wasn’t much different in the category U66kg with an all French final between Driss Masson Jbilou and Maxime Moundanga. Driss Mason won that battle. Belgian Robbe Demets took bronze as well as Gasim Valizada the participant from Azerbaijan.

Both countries were the finallists U73kg with French Daniyl Zoubko who was opposed to Vusal Galandarzade. The Frenchman won his second Junior European Cup of the season and repeated his performance in Coimbra (39 men), and captured the gold in an amazing field of 46 young men. Winner Zoubko was accompanied by two Frenchmen for bronze: Emile Notebaert and Amin Harrou.

On Sunday continued action from Nanterre that organizes the Junior European Cup for the first time. Until 2013 Lyon was the last French city with a Junior European Cup.