On the third and last day of particular person competitors of the Cadet European Championships 2024 in Sofia, now we have the remaining 5 classes on the lookout for glory.
Three weight classes stay for the younger males, first up is Konstantin DISTEL (GER), a WRL #1 athlete on this occasion. Distel had a small style of what it’d be prefer to be continental champion, however ultimately settled for a bronze medal in 2023, his first on the Worldwide circuit. He has since added some gold steel to his assortment, profitable within the Teplice Cup. Ivano DJINKIC (BIH) fell within the Europeans final yr, however went on to assert victory in three Cup occasions, defeating Distel within the last of Porec, and there will likely be a potential probability of a rematch if each win their sides of the draw. Coming for the highest pair is WRL #3, Saba SONGULASHVILI (GEO) who took gold on his first worldwide outing in Gyor, and added to this victory at residence in Telavi to bump him up the WRL. In fourth seeding place is Kenzo CREMERS (BEL) who began the yr sturdy with a win in Antalya and is hoping for that profitable feeling once more in Sofia.
One other WRL #1 and defending -70kg European Champion is Tuana GULENAY (TUR). The energy of the younger Turkish ladies is obvious and this will likely be an enormous success if she will defend this title alongside group mate Sinem ORUC. Gulenay took second place at world stage and has been remaining within the silver medal place on her most up-to-date outings with Nadie JAAFAR (BUL) and Anna OLIINYK-KORNIIKO (UKR) standing in her manner. The latter will take the third seeded place, nevertheless above her is Serbia’s Aleksandra ANDRIC, who took the Cadet World title final yr after lacking out within the European Championships. Remaining on the rostrum since, she has all of it to play for once more. Nina MUTEBA (FRA) is the final of the highest 4, however can boast 5 continental cup wins, 4 of which in 2024. It’s definitely a troublesome name on this class with the excessive stage of competitors.
The -90kg class has a powerful entry from Ukraine with high seed, WRL #2 Arkadii SAMOILOV and #5 Dmytro LEBID, each gunning for European gold. Samoilov has the golden expertise from Gyor and Samorin, whereas his group mate Lebid has discovered his ft just a little extra not too long ago with wins in Teplice and Bielsko Biala solely final month. Hopes can remainder of the pairs’ shoulders on this event. After taking a bronze medal within the Cadet European Championships 2023, Fatih DURSUN (TUR) is again to go one step additional and discover himself within the last. The second seed of the occasion hasn’t been as energetic as others within the weight, nevertheless a gold medal in Telavi means that frequency doesn’t essentially matter to him. In at fourth place is Dan KONCILIJA (CRO), gold medallist in Follonica, one other with maybe much less expertise, however simply as hungry for achievement.
Zuzanna BANASZEWSKA (POL) would be the main seeded participant within the +70kg class, the World bronze medallist has gone from energy to energy, even testing herself at junior stage, swiping a bronze in Poznan within the Junior European Cup. On the cadet entrance nevertheless, it has been gold after gold, completely 4 since her world success, which was definitely fuelled by a fifth place end within the European Championships. Leonie MINKADA-CAQUINEAU (FRA) then again, dominated within the European Championships and is defending her title this week within the second seeded place. Equally, Minkada-Caquineau has been discovering gold on her cadet journey and added a Junior European Cup bronze to her assortment in Malaga. Estonia’s Emma-Melis AKTAS has all the time been on or across the podium with plenty of bronze medal finishes, 4 to be precise, however can even lay declare to a silver medal within the European Youth Olympic Pageant and bronze within the European Championships. This yr she managed to interrupt this streak and gained the Fuengirola occasion in Spain, occasions are altering! Fourth seed, Kristyna KASZPEROVA (CZE) will likely be competing in her first prime occasion this week, after starting her medal haul in Goygol, Might 2023, she has solely as soon as missed the rostrum and this consistency might show key in Sofia.
Lastly, the +90kg males. Estonia might actually discover nice success amongst their heavyweights this week, main the younger males is Marek-Adrian MASAK (EST). Since triumphing in cadet occasions together with Fuengirola and Berlin, Masak gave his shot within the Kaunas Junior Cup, making it to the ultimate which is nice preparation. He could have sturdy competitors nevertheless, particularly from the tactical Nodar KOBALADZE (GEO), who defeated Masak within the last of Telavi. Subhan AKHUNDOV (AZE) continues to be comparatively new to the medal assortment together with his first in Riga in October, however had an enormous win at residence in Goygol in Might. Closing out the main 4 is Jean Pascal Bi Goli DA COSTA (FRA), who regardless of a seven-medal haul in Cadet Cups, is but to search out the key to attaining the gold medal, however maybe he’ll shock his opponents in Sofia and are available out victorious.
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
Share
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
E-Mail
