Seven winning nations at European Open Warsaw

The French women collected five medals at the European Open in Warsaw, enough for the victory among nations. The last European Open outside the qualification period for the Olympic Games of 2016 was a success with some surprising victories and good referee work in this tough period.

For both athletes and referees this period is adjusting to the new rules, but in general both groups adjusted well, and the development gets better.

The category U63kg was a success for Poland where Halima Mohamed Seghir took the silver medal, it was the second silver medal for Poland this weekend. The style that Mohamed-Seghir unveiled was attractive and she scored some very good point. The in the final it was Rotem Shor who showed the better judo though . She got litterly close to all opponents to benefit with seoi-nages and her counter attacks.

She showed guts this weekend taking risks against taller athletes such as Szabina Gercsak (1.78m) of Hungary and Mohamed Seghir (1.75m). Shor was the right winner this weekend in a category that showed some surprising wins. First upset was Jennifer Wichers defeating highest seeded Claudia Ahrens, but none pf the three starting Dutch women made it to the final block. Wihers got defeated by Shor. Maelle Di Cintio defeated World Junior Champion Do Velema by shidos and Hennink was defeated in the quarter final by Mohamed Seghir. Di Cintio took the bronze against Ozdoba, who also deserves credits for her riskful and offensive style today. Ekaterina Valkova lost bronze against Szabina Gercsak although it got close in the last seconds. The Hungarian youngster was the youngest of all participants and picked up a useful bronze medal.

Halima Mohamed Seghir was elected as best Polish athlete of the tournament. She broke through the barriers and it will for sure give her the confidence to lift her talent to higher levels.

Again Poland could cheer for the bronze medal for Katarzyna Klys. The judo mother got back successfully this year with her second European Open medal. For bronze she defeated Yarden Mayersohn (ISR), another Israelian, highest seeded Lior Wildikan lost against Heide Wollert. The German lost the semin final against her compatriot Szaundra Diedrich who showed good judo today, and that made the final more interesting. Margaux Pinot qualified for the final via victyories over Jablonska (POL), Artoshina (RUS) and Klys. Pinot showed good tactics in those fight although her judo wasn’t too spectacular. She kept her energy for the final. She scored a yuko and was continuously keeping the initiative not giving Diedrich a serious change to execute her devastating throws. The first gold medal for France which gave the French the pleasure of winning the medal table.

Dutch Guusje Steenhuis is booking real good progress in her weight category. In Paris at the Grand Slam she was close to a final but finished fifth after losing to Verkerk, the world’s number two. Here at European Open Level she took a deserved victory. Her judo was convincing although in the final she had all problems to keep Catherine Roberge of Canada of her back. Roberge is the number FIVE of the World Championships in Rio and was expected in the finals. Roberge defeated Stevenson (NED) and Kanteeva (RUS). Steenhuis overcame Szlendak (POL) and Raifova (KAZ) as warmup to her match against double European Champion Abigel Joo. The Hungarian may have a good reputation but is in a phase of getting back to her old level and is not yet representing her third place at the World Ranking. Steenhuis scored an early wazari but was not in danger, what also says more about Steenhuis in this phase. Joo took bronze though against Karen Stevenson. Alana Kanteeve defeated Sofie de Saedelaere for bronze. The Belgian was six seconds close of beating Abigel Joo in her first match, but Joo struck with by ippon after a backdraft of wazari.

The heavyweight category was won by Odkhuu Javzmaa of Mongolia who was better than Elisa Marchio in the final. Sixteen participants in this category second seeded Maryna Slutskaya was expected to reach the final as well but she got caught for Marchio in the semi. The Belarus talent defeated Jodi Myers (GBR) for bronze. Tessie Savelkouls showed nice judo in the beginning but she walked into too many shidos and Lena Buseman benefit in the fight for bronze. But to finish things well, she overcame the runner-up of the European U23 Championships by ippon.