Sappho Coban picks up winning in Sindelfingen

At the European Cup in Sindelfingen, the German Open, the organizing country celebrated one gold medal for Sappho Coban. Germany lost two final and won 9 bronze medals, so no reason to complain. Was though collected two gold medals.

Julien La Rocca won the German Open U73kg in the final against Julian Kolein of Germany. This category U73 had 31 participants and La Rocca won five contests against strong fighters such as Dzmitry Shershan (BLR) and Oleg Vasilev of Russia.

Bulgaria was happy with a gold medal by Yanislav Gerchev. The European U23 champion of 2015 won his first European Cup. In the final he defeated Akos Bartha (HUN).

The title for men U66kg was for Fabio Basile. The Italian judoka also won his first European Cup. He had already won European Championships medals in all age categories (U17, U20 and U23) and is now trying to succeed at senior level. In the final he overcame Michal Bartusik of Poland.

In the women’s category U48kg, France won the first gold medal of the day. Melodie Vaugarny already won many strong French events, and this year she started to win European Cup level events. Her first in Sarajevo  in March and today the German open, her major title so far. In the final she defeated German Katharina Menz. Last year’s winners Violeta Dumitru won bronze.

Karolina Pienkowska was the winner U52kg. The Polish lightweight won the European Cup in Bratislava this year but now added her second victory in a European Cup. Pienkowska won 10 national titles in all different categories. Marie Orsini of France won silver, the same position as one year ago at the European Cup Swedish Open in Helsingborg.

Dutch Floortje Stoop perhaps took her best ever victory by grabbing the German Open U63kg. The tall Dutch was too strong for Cloe Yvin, the French champion. A good first medal this year for the bronze medallist of the World Junior Championships in 2011 (U52kg) who won bronze at the German Open last year.

The home victory for German for Sappho Coban was her first European Cup win U57kg. She stepped up from U52kg this year. The European U23 Champion found the line up after her junior world title in 2013. In the final she defeated Anna Righetti of Italy.

In Sindelfingen 91 women and 133 men from 23 nations started . On Sunday the heavier categories awaiting the battle for the medals.