Following an exemplary Cadet European Championships in Odivelas, some of the champions are committed to continue their successful streak in the European Youth Olympic Festival next week.
Partaking in the EYOF are 308 judoka from 43 nations, most will already be settling in to Slovenia’s second largest city, Maribor, preparing for the opening ceremony tomorrow on the 23rd of July. As the judo event doesn’t start until the 25th, it gives all judoka the opportunity to experience the festivities that are so closely aligned with the Olympic Games and the multi-sport phenomenon.
Six of the world ranked number ones are lining up to put on a show for this festival, including the current cadet continental champions, Sinem ORUC (TUR/-63kg), Patricia TOMANKOVA (SVK/-40kg), Marta BEORLEGUI OSES (ESP/-44kg), Ramazan AHMADOV (AZE/+90kg) and Mahammad MUSAYEV (AZE/-60kg). One of those top ranked is Dusan GRAHOVAC (SRB/-81kg), although he was forced to settle for a bronze in Odivelas, whilst team mate Boris RUTOVIC took the title.
This spectacle has been running for over thirty years now, established in 1991 in Brussels, Belgium, with judo as one of the nine sports in the inaugural edition.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen