Strong Japanese women and Belgian men in Wroclaw

The European Cup for Juniors in Wroclaw delivered three gold medals for the Japanese youngsters. Quite similar to last year when the Japanese also had a strong women’s team. Belgium won two gold medals in the men’s divisions U55 and U73kg.

Jorre Verstraeten won his first European Cup in the Juniors, even in the cadets he had never won a European Cup. Verstraeten was EYOF finalist in 2013 and World medallist in cadets in 2013. This year he won Bremen U21. His compatriot Matthias Casse was the best among 55 participants in Wroclaw. Also he won in Bremen which was a good grade of strength. Casse had to win 6 bouts today in the west of Poland.

Asim Mameidov of the Ukraine won gold U60kg, also for him the first victory after defeating Amir Dante from Israel. The Israeli did win gold after all U66kg when Yarin Menaged defeated his compatriot Alexander Raskopine. Where usually the Israeli women are stronger, it seems that the men are now inspired by the great achievements of the senior men such as Muki, Or Sasson, Baruch, Pollack, Flicker and Kochman.

In the women’s lightweight division U44kg Jana Schmitz of Germany celebrated the victory. Sitora Boymatova (RUS) was defeated in the final. The Russian had already won 8 European Cup medals, but Schmitz proved to be in shape in La Coruna where she won. The European bronze winner in cadets last year also won this gold medal for Germany, which makes her one of the favourites for a European title later in Oberwart.

The category for women U48kg had an interesting draw. World’s number two in the IJF Junior World Ranking Reka Pupp was coupled to the final winner Rui Takahashi. The Japanese won all her five matches and Pupp came back in the repechage with 4 victories and took bronze. Takahashi overcame Catarina Costa of Portugal was the world’s number five of the World Junior Championships in Miami last year U44kg. Today she won silver, she is unfortunately quite familiar with that colour.

Chishima Maeda of Japan overclassed her opponents U52kg, two Russian on the podium with silver and bronze as well as Luca Polgar who won bronze for Hungary. Shuri Tsukino won the category U57kg against Canadian Jessica Klimkait who finished fifth last year, now with silver.

The Japanese winners of last year all compete now at senior level. Last year’s silver medallist Yoshida won the Grand Slam in Tyumen this weekend. Who knows what we can expect from them next year.