Almost 500 judoka have registered for the adidas European U20 Championships in Porec (CRO), to be held next week from 21-23 September.
Host nation Croatia should be able to claim some medals with a strong team.
Both Matic ladies will compete; Barbara U70kg, Brigita U78kg. But also Ana Kokeza (U63kg) and Ivana Sutalo (+78) have proved to meet with the international top level juniors.
Denis Beljic (men’s U90kg) and Jurica Katic (men’s U100kg) have also collected European Cup medals this season.
The Russian team is represented by the maximum of 32 participants, two in each category. The Ukraine have 24 judoka in Croatia, Hungary and Italy follow with 24 talents.
This event may for some be the start for the Olympic Games in 2016. Ugo Legrand (FRA) and Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA) won the European junior title in 2008 and both collected a bronze medal at the Olympic Games. Charline van Snick, who won bronze in 2008 won in London’s Olympics this year.
In total twelve judoka who won a medal in the 2008 edition participated in the Olympic Games, four years later.
Eighteen former medalists at European Junior Championships won a medal at the 2012 Olympic Games!
Croatia is building out it’s talent pool. This year the host was proud to have two Olympic participants, in four years time Croatia should be able to have more Olympians.
Read more about the Championships here:
Watch last year’s videos of the U20 Championships in our You Tube channel:
