Though there was a great deal of support for the Mixed Team event of the U23 European Championships 2024, it was an early exit for the host nation, Poland, defeated by a strong team from Azerbaijan including European Champions, Grand Slam and Junior World medallists, who were then sent to the repechage by Germany who have a strong culture in team competition.
Eventually, the first semi final came to be between Ukraine and the Netherlands, the latter placing second in the medal table of the individual event. Vladislav KOLOBOV (UKR) took the first win against Lars VAN OOSTRUM (NED) in the opening minute of the -90kg category round, a tomoe nage setting the pace for this head to head. Diana SEMCHENKO took another win for Team Ukraine, claiming the win in ne waza in the open category for women.
Silvan BULTHUIS helped to bring the Netherlands back in to play in the +90kg category, battling with Mykola HRYBYK for over seven minutes before scoring with a huge uchi mata. Unfortunately, that is where their luck ran out, Anastasiia CHYZHEVSKA (UKR) took back the favour, putting her team three points up with a beautiful sasae tsurikomi ashi against Vera RASPE in the -57kg category. Finally, a lot of pressure was on Niels THIJSSEN (NED) to prevent his team going in to the bronze medal contest, but it seemed that Serhii NEBOTOV had the stronger motivation, the final point for Ukraine earned in the first minute of the -73kg category in osae komi.
On the other side of the draw, deciding the final match against Ukraine were Germany and Georgia.
Akaki JAPARIDZE (GEO) was the initial winning point of this head to head, throwing with a signature uchi mata we had seen yesterday in his individual performance, defeating Tom DROSTE. Anna Monta OLEK (GER) managed to level the score by taking Nino PAPIDZE to the ground and securing the osae komi.
Irakli DEMETRASHVILI (GEO) and Daniel UDSILAURI (GER) had a rematch of their +100kg semi final, the latter trying to avoid a second consecutive loss. Though looking to be tending to a small injury, Udsilauri remained active in the opening half of the contest, almost catching the current U23 European Champion with a low uchi gari in the final minute. Demetrashvili was just biding his time, waiting for Udsilauri to slow, and when the German representative attempted uchi mata, he was over rolled, giving Georgia the win.
Nino LOLADZE (GEO) has been growing exponentially, taking silver medals in both the Junior and U23 European Championships this year and at the very least she was wanting a place in the Mixed Team final, and she gave a champion performance in the semi final against Helene RIEGERT. The pair seemed to be in a clinch, Loladze looking for the lift, but saw the opportunity to throw with o uchi gari. The Loladze name had the winning charm is seemed, with Giorgi LOLADZE taking the fourth and final win in incredible fashion against Jano RUEBO, though he was originally fighting right, edging his hip in, he surprised his opponent by switching left with a huge o goshi, putting his team in to the final, defeating the 2023 Champions.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen