On the second, and final day of individual competing in the U23 European Championships 2024, we saw the remaining weight categories battling it out for the seven titles.
In the -81kg category, Kote KAPANADZE (GEO) was first to take his place in the final, demonstrating some stunning ashi waza skills, throwing Omar RAJABLI (AZE) with ko soto in the first half of the semi final. Though it looked unlikely for Bright MADDALONI NOSA (ITA) to succeed in his semi final against Petr MLADY (CZE), given the issues he was appearing to have with his hands, in the last seconds he managed to counter a drop seoi nage attempt from Mlady, scoring waza ari with yoko guruma.
There will certainly be a battle in the -70kg category, with the current Junior World Champion, Elena DENGG (AUT) taking on the two-time, defending U23 European Champion, Samira BOCK (GER). It hasn’t been an easy route for either, for Dengg, she countered a ko soto attempt from Aleksandra KOWALEWSKA (POL) with o uchi gari to become a finalist. Bock on the other hand took her hard knocks a little earlier and secured the place in her third consecutive final by defeating Ida JAKOBSEN (DEN) with a colossal harai makikomi.
Regardless of the semi final result between Lars VAN OOSTRUM and Ian VAN HERK, the Dutch team were guaranteed a finalist in the -90kg category. Van Oostrum could already boast a Junior European title from 2023, but it was Van Herk that pushed though, scoring waza ari with a wheeling o goshi that earned him a place in his first Continental Championship final. There he will meet Moldova’s champion hope, Mihail LATISEV, who just a year ago was hailed as the European Judo Union Junior Athlete of the Year. Since moving weight categories it has been a slow climb but he was unstoppable today, and finally defeated one of the strongest in the category, Giorgi JABNIASHVILI (GEO), throwing twice with a drop sode tsurikomi.
There were very high hopes for the current Cadet European and World Champion, Zuzanna BANASZEWSKA (POL) after the first round defeat of Anna Monta OLEK (GER) in the -78kg category. She succeeded in fighting her way to the semi final, but her journey to gold ended here against Maria HANSTEDE (NED) who scored against her tall opponent with a tight ko uchi gari. Banaszewska will still compete for a bronze medal. On the other half of the draw, it was good to see Yuliia KURCHENKO (UKR) back in competition after surgery and competing well, but she was taken by surprise by Yael VAN HEEMST (NED), who won with a drop sode tsurikomi goshi.
Another successful cadet athlete, Nikita YUDANOV (UKR) was close to glory in the -100kg category, but the experience lay in favour of Viktor ADAM (SVK) who in only 35 seconds, applied shime waza for his chance for gold. It appears Team Netherlands were finding motivation from their team mates as yet another will be appearing to fight for the title, Lars VISSERS. It was a dynamic contest and Vissers timed a rotating tsuri goshi well against tough opponent Mikheil JAPARIDZE (GEO).
Diana SEMCHENKO (UKR) shocked in the opening rounds of the +78kg category, defeating Hilal OZTURK (TUR), but she made it all the way to he final against Carmen DIJKSTRA (NED). This was a difficult contest and became somewhat strategic, and in the end, Dijkstra ceded the contest by picking up three shidos. Estonia’s Emma-Melis AKTAS (EST) is a rising star and even celebrated a gold medal in the Tallinn European Open, but she was unable to defeat Yuli Alma MISHINER (ISR) who took the semi final win with a swift drop seoi nage.
The +100kg men will be concluding the event today, and it will be a home favourite, Gzregorz TERESINSKI (POL) against Irakli DEMETRASHVILI (GEO). Teresinksi had a tough call against the Junior World silver medallist, Kanan NASIBOV (AZE) in his semi final, heading in to golden score. Then with the supporting force of the crowd he executed a huge o soto gari, scoring ippon and achieving a place in the final. It will be another close contest against Demetrashvili, who had to really work hard to defend an early score against Daniel UDSILAURI (GER). Udsilauri attempted a ko soto which was countered by uchi mata.
Author: Thea Cowen