Tallinn weakest European Open ever for women

Tallinn is hosting some of the talents of Europe for the European Open in Tallinn, the Estonian capital. It is the 15th edition of this World Cup, which is held under the name of the European Open for the fifth edition. Since 2003 Tallinn hosts the top athletes, but this year is again with a strong focus on the coming generation. The highest ranked athlete is seeded 36 in the World Ranking, John Jayne of the United States, so that says enough, with just 171 competitor, against 292 last year.

The first edition of the European Open in Tallinn in 2013 the tournament had 156 athletes, but only men, this time there 123 men and just 48 women which is the weakest event for women ever on European soil. For men it is the weakest since 2013 with just 123 athletes. The previous European Open in Madrid had 340 participants. Even the Asian Championships of last week had more competitors as well as last week’s Pan American Open.

That being said, the men’s U90kg is still quite competitive with 29 athletes, in contrary to women’s +78kg with just 3 athletes and for instance 4 U52kg.

It is not a sign that European senior events become weaker, but the agenda is really full of choice and in fact just 100 points for the winner. Still those points are for grab in this field with a victory.

In the women’s divisions only U63kg and U78kg have more than 8 competitors. With the Training Camp in Benidorm, with lots of participants from all over the world, such investment seems more valuable instead of the qualification points for a generation that will likely not qualify easily for Paris next year.Despite the tradition of the European Open, some events will always need to be competitive with the peers and the calendar can need a evaluation, or correct scheduling of the events in conjunction with competitive activities. The youth will come to Paks in Hungary this weekend to get points and experience at the European Cup in Paks, a city on the banks of the Danube and the home of Olympic and World Champion Kovacs Antal as well as World and European Champion Braun Ákos.