Ohai captures second Romanian women’s gold

Twelve nations won a medal at the first day of the European Championships U23 in Samokov. Russia claimed four, but Romania was the most efficient with two gold medals.

The gold for women U57kg was as well for Romania. Loredana Ohai led the match after she scored a waza-ari after two minutes against Lola Benarroche. The French also won a silver at the 2008 European Junior Championships and gave everything to prevent the same colour with three minutes to go. But the 21-year old Romanian Ohai is experienced enough to keep Benarroche off the gold. Ohai improved her bronze medals of 2011 and 2012 and turned bronze into gold. Ohai is the fifth Romanian to win this European title. Also in the seniors the women are still amazingly strong with sometimes double European titles, most over in the light and middle weight categories.

It is already the best ever European U23 Championships for Romania since the start in 2003.

Ohai started today’s series well with a victory over Ilkiv of the Ukraine, Seyis (TUR) and Ilieva (BUL) in the semi final. Bennarroche defeated very strong opponents in her road to the final with Fanny Malmborg (SWE), Noa Snir (ISR) and EVelyne Tschopp (SUI) as tough opponents, perhaps she gave her best in the road to the silver success.

The bronze medal fight was a clear bronze for Switzerland as two fighters qualified for the bronze bout: European Junior Champion Fabienne Kocher was in the lead in the second half of the match against 22-year old Evelyne Tschopp and was not in danger to take the bronze. It was her first medal in this age category.

Bulgaria cheered hard for Ivelina Ilieva who took the bronze medal for her country. In the final she needed almost the full five minutes to defeat Italian Martina Lo Giudice. Ilieva is one of the greatest hopes for Bulgarian judo and she continued her bronze medal of last year in Prague. It was her third medal in this age category, in 2010 she also won bronze when she was 19.