Spain celebrates gold medal for Gomez in Malaga

At the second day of the Junior European Cup in Malaga Japan was not surprisingly again the strongest country with three gold medals, an efficient team. Behind Japan, Germany captured two titles on Sunday.

Let’s start with the first and only gold medal for Spain in the women’s U48kg category. The Spaniards have a reputation in this ‘Spanish’ category. With Julia Figueroa, Laura Martinez and Mireia Lapuerta the Spaniards have three world class athletes, but also in the youth Spain have a choice and the outcome was an all Spanish final U48kg. Gemma Maria Gomez Antona claimed the gold medal on Sunday after she won her final against Eva Perez Soler. Bulgarian groundworker Anastasiia Balaban took the bronze as well as Portuguese talent Raquel Brito in a field eleven young women. Despite the power of Spanish lightweights, it was 6 years ago since Spain won this weight category, Laura Martinez was the previous winner in 2016. Japan’s top athlete Wakana Koga was the winner in 2019, the previous edition.

What counts for the Spanish, was the situation in the U52kg division with an all German final. Nicole Stakhov defeated Lena Djeriou. Pihla Salonen (FIN) and Ariane Toro Soler (ESP) took bronze medals. It was the fifth victory for Germany in this category since 2012 when Theresa Stoll won the title.

Japan added a new title for women U57kg by Akari Omori who defeated Maelenn Cotard of France. Two Spaniards Adriana Rodriguez Salvador and Deniba Konare Sissoko secured a bronze medal among 24 participants. Omori follows up Erika Okada (JPN) who won in 2019.

In the men’s tournament Switzerland impressed again with a gold medal for Aurelien Bonferroni. Bonferroni defeated Kaito Amano of Japan in the final. Bonferroni is the first ever winner in Spain, a tournament with a history in Malaga and La Coruna. Jarne Duyck (BEL) and Loic Gerosa (SUI) captured the bronze medals in Malaga U81kg.

In the category U90kg Junnosuke Todaka of Japan captured the gold against his compatriot Riku Okada (JPN). It was the first ever Japanese victory in Spain in this category. Denmark took a nice bronze medal after David Ivanian won his last contest. Romeo Leveque of France added the second bronze medal.

It was a strong field for men U100kg with no space for Japanese winners. Germany’s George Udsilauri is in shape. After his bronze in Nanterre he this time grabbed the gold medal after his final against Dutch talent Lars Vissers. His strong compatriot Silvan Bulthuis took a useful bronze medal after his victory in Coimbra and failed participation in Lignano after having COVID. Bogdan Petre of Romania took the second gold medal. Last edition in 2019 Germany’s Ole Buth won this division, now again a German victory.

Japanese heavyweight Mitsuki Sugawara was the expected man +100kg and didn’t disappoint. In the final he overcame Oleksii Halaka (UKR). Estonian Karl Priilinn Turk claimed the bronze medal. The catgeory had only five participants.