Lila MAZZARINO (FRA/-78) had to fight really hard to reach the gold medal match in Tallinn. The 19-year-old needed a total of 20:12 minutes net fighting time to win her three preliminary round duels, each by golden score. “I was fighting all three of them (Marie KOSNAROVA/CZE, Mathilda Sophie NIEMEYER/GER, Fabia CONCEICAO/POR, editor’s note) for the first time and had to slowly adjust to them. It was tough, very tough indeed.”
Only her opponent in the final, Jovana STJEPANOVIC (SRB), was no stranger for Lila. “We’ve already faced each other in a gold medal match this July, in Paks (HUN). I won then too. I was optimistic that I could beat her again. I knew that my chance to counterattack would come at some point.”
The duel for gold was over relatively quickly. After 2:34 minutes, Mazzarino was able to celebrate her first European Championships Juniors title. “I’m extremely proud. I’ve won a few medals with the cadets. But winning a title at a major junior event is completely new for me.”
Author: EJU Media