The 2013 European Championships for Cadets kicked off with the draw Thursday evening in Tallinn, Estonia. 438 young athletes from 40 countries have been entered for the Championships. They are competing for a total of 64 medals.
EJU President Sergey Soloveychik, EJU Vice President Michal Vachun and Toni Meijel General Secretary of the hosting Estonian Judo Federation welcomed the participants. “We are one team – athletes, coaches, EJU officials. We are preparing the champions for the future”, Soloveychik pointed out.
EJU Sports Directors Catarina Rodrigues and Hrvoje Lindi conducted the draws for boys and girls.
180 girls and 258 boys between 15 and 17 years are competing in Tallinn this week.
Among them are defending European cadet champions Amber Gersjes (NED, moved up to -44kg), Betina Temelkova (BUL, -48kg), Stefania Adelina Dobre (ROU, -57kg), Alessandra Prosdocimo (ITA, -63kg), Brigita Matic (CRO, -70kg) and Kamila Pasternak (POL, +70kg) as well as Ilkin Babazada (AZE, -55kg), Koba Mchedlishvili (GEO, moved up to -66kg), Mikhail Igolnikov (RUS, -81kg) and Karlen Palian (RUS, -90kg).
Mikhail Igolnikov can be the first winner of three consecutive European Cadet titles. He is competing U81kg.
The competition starts Friday at 10.00 am at the Saku Suurhall in Tallinn.
Watch the pictures of the draw and download it.
