German women strong in Warsaw, Sterpu sets milestone for Moldova

Germany was strong at the second day of the European Open in Warsaw. With two gold medals and an all German final for women U78kg, the team made the connection with the top countries in Poland, China and France.

Anna-Monta Olek claimed the gold medal in the U78kg category when she overcame her German teammate Julie Hoelterhoff in the final. With 20 years she wasn’t the youngest winner of the day as her German compatriot George Udsilauri captured gold for men U100kg. He defeated Zlatko Kumric of Croatia in an attractive weight division. Udsilauri also defeated Daniel Herbst of Germany in the semi final. He lost the match for bronze against Polish Michal Jedrzejewski who captured the only medal for Poland this weekend. Austria’s Laurin Boekhler was happy to be back on an international podium after a long injury period.

France added another gold medal in the men’s U90kg category and that was decisive to win the country medal table. Max Laborde was able to defeat Dorin Gotonoaga of Moldova. Both Moldova as Romania were strong this weekend.

Mircea Croitoru of Romania finished with gold after he bested Marius Fizel (SVK) in the men’s heavyweight final.

Moldova won a gold medal, Victor Sterpu won the European Open gold medal in the final against Damian Stepien, the only male finalist for Poland this weekend. Sterpu became the first man of Moldova to win the gold at the Polish Open, held since 1962.

In the women’s U70kg division Swiss Goia Vetterli took the gold medal in her final against Polish Eliza Wroblewska, the only Polish female in the final this weekend. In the women's U70kg category, Feng Yingying kept the pressure to make the podium. The 23-year-old won Pool C with three victories. In the semifinal, the Chinese lost to Eliza Wroblewska of Poland, but she was able to return to her best as Feng beat her compatriot Sun Anqi in the match for bronze.

China was successful this weekend with two gold medals on Saturday, China's heavyweights Xu Shiyan and Su Xin won silver and bronze respectively in the women's +78kg competition at the Judo Warsaw European Open 2023 on Sunday. Xu turned out to be better than Su in the semifinal. The 25-year-old found a waza-ari and then she continued the momentum to secure her spot in the final. Xu took a silver medal as she lost to Brazil's Beatriz Souza. Souza is the first Brazilian winner in Poland since world champion Mayra Aguiar won gold in 2008 as first woman in Brazil.