This weekend, over 600 cadet athletes are descending on Teplice, Czechia. Travelling from over 32 nations, the future champions are gathering to test their abilities, many within the top 10 in the world ranking list. Czechia have been hosting this Cadet Cup event since 2009, as well as a Championships in 2010. In the following year the EJU camps commenced and have been running successfully ever since, hence the incredible numbers.
There is a notably strong presence from Australia, but Europe have some incredibly powerful contenders, including that of Anna OLIINYK-KORNIIKO (UKR), who not only medalled in the Cadet European Championships last year, but then went on to take silver in the U23 European Championships, demonstrating she can already run with the more senior competitors of the -70kg category.
From the hosts, Kristyna KASZPEROVA in the +70kg category is the highest of the world ranking list at #9. However she is one of 65 entries from Czechia hoping to earn some hometown glory and move up in the ranking lists.
The two day event will run on the 6th and 7th of April. Follow the live draw on JudoTV.com at 20:00 local time on Friday 5th of April.
Author: Thea Cowen