First European Cup of the season delivers titles for Kazakh men

The European Cup for senior was held in Riga last weekend. Kazakhstan was able to achieve to win three titles in Latvia, Finland took two gold medals. The competition started with the lightweights on Saturday.

In the U60 weight category, Adam Jazan from Israel took home the gold medal, while Nazar Viskov from Ukraine settled for silver. It was an intense match, but Jazan managed to outsmart his opponent with his quick movements and excellent technique.

In the U66 category, Francesco Cargnelutti from Italy won gold, while Nurzat Salimbayev from Kazakhstan won silver. Cargnelutti was aggressive from the start and managed to take control of the match, eventually winning by an ippon.

The U73 category saw Bakhitzhan Abdurakhmanov from Kazakhstan clinch the gold medal, while Emile Notebaert from France settled for silver. Abdurakhmanov was quick on his feet and managed to get the better of Notebaert with his superior technique.

In the women's categories, Jana Cid Balcells from Spain won gold in the U48 category, while Natalia Stoklosa from Poland won silver. Anja Stangar from Slovenia won gold in the U52 category, what an achievement again of the recovered Stangar, Marta Kuras from Poland took silver. Anastasija Sokirjanska from Latvia won gold in the U57 category, while Alina Shylova from Ukraine won silver.

In the U63 category, Emilia Kanerva from Finland won gold, while Kamile Nalbat from the Netherlands settled for silver. The Dutch claimed nine medals in total but couldn't win one of the four finals.

On Sunday Aibol Nyssanali from Kazakhstan won gold in the U81 category, while Ari Winkler from Israel won silver. Nyssanali was in great form and managed to dominate his opponent from the beginning of the match.

In the U90 category, Mattias Kuusik from Estonia won gold, while Axel Heeren from the Netherlands won silver. Kuusik was quick on his feet and managed to catch Heeren off guard with his lightning-fast attacks and captured his second victory in a row in Latvia.

Oleksii Yershov from Ukraine won gold in the U100 category, while Kylian Bulthuis from the Netherlands settled for silver. Yershov was a formidable opponent and managed to outmaneuver Bulthuis with his superior technique. Last he it was Yershov to finish with silver.

In the O100 category, the experienced Yerassyl Kazhibayev (28) from Kazakhstan won gold, while Yelaman Yergaliyev, also from Kazakhstan, took silver. It was a closely contested match, but Kazhibayev managed to get the better of his opponent with his quick movements and excellent technique.

Rachael Hawkes (28) from Ireland won gold in the U70 category, while Kaja Schuster from Slovenia won silver. Emma Krapu from Finland won gold in the U78 category, while Amber Weiland from the Netherlands won silver. It was the second title for the Finnish women. Krapu (18) was the youngest winner of this weekend.

The next scheduled European Cup for Seniors will be held in Dubrovnik in April.