In Slovenia’s first ever European Open, held within the capital of Ljubljana, the host athletes placed on a terrific present with some even testing new classes, however the one to get the group on their ft was Junior European Champion and World bronze medallist, Kaja SCHUSTER. Right this moment she competed within the -78kg class, although her success has been discovered at -70kg. The lions share of the gold medals ended up going to Ukraine, totalling three gold, one silver and one bronze. Beginning with two medals at -63kg…
The ultimate of the -63kg class noticed the primary and three seeds; VARGA Brigitta (HUN) and Anastasiia ANTIPINA (UKR) go face to face for the continental open gold in Ljubljana. This was the primary closing at this degree for each athletes, having collected quite a few bronze awards previously, however as we speak, all of the glory went to Antipina who used circling momentum to catch Varga with ko soto gari, following her opponent to the bottom to make sure the ippon rating.
Yehonatan VEKSLER (ISR) is an thrilling younger potential within the -60kg class, securing the Cadet European title in 2021 and final yr changing into a Junior European finalist. Right this moment he started his senior profession with a bang, heading straight in to the class closing towards one other gold medal prospect for Hungary, FECZKO Csanad. Feczko can be no stranger to continental success, the 24 year-old received the European Youth Olympic Competition and was a Cadet European Championship finalist twice. Final yr he secured his first European Open gold in Sarajevo, and as we speak appeared for his second. Sadly he was unable to double his loot, with Veksler managing to change course, initially trying to throw ahead with an enormous grip across the again, however feeling the resistance, he redirected with ko soto gari to attain an Open-winning waza ari.
The -70kg closing hosted Gioia VETTERLI (SUI) and Anna OLIINYK-KORNIIKO (UKR), the latter the proprietor of 5 continental championship medals; 4 at cadet and one at U23. Nonetheless a really younger contender, she had stiff competitors with Vetterli, already a three-time medallist on the open degree. For Oliinyk-Korniiko, she made an error going to floor towards the Swiss athlete simply over a minute in to the competition, as expertise and experience received out. Vetterli labored till she was in a position to safe the juji gatame win within the -70kg gold.
Arguably some of the fierce contests of the ultimate block was the -66kg closing between Jochem VAN HARTEN (NED) and Nazar VISKOV (UKR). At solely 20 and 19 years outdated, it was actually a younger face to face, every as determined as the opposite to face on high of the rostrum. Each have additionally confirmed their skills on the worldwide stage with continental titles; Van Harten with an EYOF gold, and Viskov with titles from U23 and Junior degree, and each got here collectively for his or her first European Open closing. After an extra minute and a half of gruelling golden rating, Viskov attacked with o soto gari and used his final burst of vitality to drive again, lifting the leg excessive so there was no escaping the rating.
Lea SCHMID (GER) and Kaila ISOUFFI (FRA) once more took us in to golden rating, this time within the -78kg class. It was a contest that might have gone both method, each having close to misses of their first European Open closing. It didn’t seem to have been an error on Schmid’s facet, however extra anticipation from Isouffi who created distance as Schmid attacked with a ko soto gari. Isouffi capitalised on the house, transferring instantly in to osae komi to take her gold medal.
All through the day within the -73kg class, Mentioned-Magomed KHALIDOV (UKR) had given a ballistic efficiency, however he met his match within the closing towards Zakary AINSEBA (FRA) who was in a position to management his opponent, all the best way in to a different golden rating. After 22 seconds, it seemed to be over. Ainseba entered for a standing seoi nage on his shorter opponent and located himself taken again by Khalidov for a waza ari rating!
Concluding the primary day of the Ljubljana European Open 2025 was the +78kg closing between Erica SIMONETTI (ITA) and Carmen DIJKSTRA (NED). The Italian judoka, Simonetti, broke the golden rating development and took a robust win in simply over one minute! Taking Dijkstra to the bottom to labored tirelessly to safe the osaekomi, incomes her first European Open gold. This isn’t a debut on the senior circuit after all, already with an IJF World Tour medal from the Zagreb Grand Prix, however the two time continental champion has been slowly rising her presence.
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
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