KATOWICE & PRAGUE: LAST EJU OPENS AHEAD OF 2017 EUROPEANS
European Judo Open Men [Katowice] and Women [Prague]
The past four consecutive weeks were rather hectic for all athletes travelling around Europe to attend at EJU as well as IJF tour. The final destination of week five will see almost 200 female athletes travelling to Prague [Czech Republic], whilst over 300 male athletes will visit Katowice [Poland] for the weekend.
#JudoKatowice2017
Katowice will host a two days’ event with 37 nations on board. Each and every weight division could be dominated by different nations. Starting with the -60kg category where double Olympian, multiply continental championships medallist, Hovhannes DAVTYAN [ARM] will returns to stage for the first time since the last Summer Games. Amongst the rest of the seeded players the chances are equally spread. Out of top 8, yet can reach the podium is Jorre VERSTRAETEN [BEL]. African Champion of 2016, Imad ASSOU [MAR] to lead the -66kg entry list with Kenneth VAN GANESBEKE [BEL] on second seed position. However, the ones to look out for rather be U23 European Champion, Denis VIERU [MDA]; Rio Olympian and Grand Prix winner, Jasper LEFEVERE [BEL] and 2016 Junior European Champion, Dzmitry MINKOU [BLR]. A rather intense appearance will be in the -73kg category. Jeromir JEZEK [CZE] is on the top of the entry list but despite a powerful top 8 seeds, the majority of the 59 athletes entered can also dance to the rhythm of an elite. Brazilian duet, Eduardo Yudi SANTOS and Rafael MACEDO ventured through to the final stage of the -81kg category displaying outstanding judo skills 2 weeks ago in Rome. At the time, Santos was fourth seed whilst Macedo raised from unknown. This time around, Santos leads the entry list and undoubtedly will aim to return home with another gold. Piotr KUCZERA [POL] astonished the spectators two weeks ago when he delivered a first-rate golden performance in Rome. Nothing could compare if he was able to repeat it front of his friends and family this weekend. Kuczera clipped down a few big names previously. Another one could be if he was to defeat top seed Ciril GROSSKLAUS [SUI]. Maxim RAKOV [KAZ] will make his 2017 debut in Katowice. The top seed of the -100kg category last fought at the 2016 Summer Games. Meanwhile, Aaron FARA [AUT] is on a mission to book a spot with the Austrian delegation travelling to the 2017 Europeans. To achieve it, Fara will need to shine somehow the same way he did in Rome over a week ago. The door is equitably open for all 26 athletes entered in the +100kg category with Aliaksandr VAKHAVIAK [BLR] on the top of the list. The Polish team entered 53 strong athletes to take all chances for medal record.
#JudoPrague2017
Prague will view a one day event as all seven weight divisions will compete at Arena Sparta on Saturday, 4th of March. The likeliness of a Russian gold will stand the chance in the -48kg category by top seed Nataliya KOMOVA [RUS]. Both, mounting Cinta GARCIA MESA [ESP] and talented Ewa KONIECZNY [POL] have also step into the golden zone. The surprise of the day could easily be 16 years old, 2016 Junior European Champion, Daria BILODID [UKR]. In the -52kg category, most likely winners to be seen amongst top four seeds, Karolina PIENKOWSKA [POL], Darya SKRYPNIK [BLR], Tena SIKIC [CRO] or Agata PERENC [POL]. Possible disturbance could come from Jessica PEREIRA [BRA]. The rest of the crew will have to have their game plane on to take out well experienced top four seeds. Similar situation in the -57kg category as strong 3 seeds just seems slightly above the league, which will be very appealing for the young Georgian crew. The -63kg category will be rather exciting to watch as the mixture of the top 8 seeds are rather equivalent. Unseeded, yet very powerful German duet, Lea REIMANN and Nadja BAZYNSKI with a few never to be underestimated French players, could possibly deliver the unexpected. Extremely talented, Paris and Tokyo Grand Slam bronze medallist, WRL#7 Elvismar RODRIGUEZ [VEN], leads the entry list of the -70kg category. The closest to her is Lola MANSOUR [BEL] who picked up her first ever Grand Prix medal last weekend in Dusseldorf in a form of a bronze medal. The Belgium competitor will certainly be on fire to continue her success. Brazil’s Samanta SOARES leads the -78kg entry list. If we were to rely on the world ranking places to presume the podium, we have to call it an open book. Rather the opposite situation in the +78kg category as top two seeds, Maryna SLUTSKAYA [BLR] and Sandra JABLONSKYTE [LTU] both been around elite level for a while. Out of the two, Slutskaya has mastered winning European Opens as she claimed 4 gold so far. The home nation has the total amount of six athletes on the entry list.
#JudoKatowice2017
Katowice will host a two days’ event with 37 nations on board. Each and every weight division could be dominated by different nations. Starting with the -60kg category where double Olympian, multiply continental championships medallist, Hovhannes DAVTYAN [ARM] will returns to stage for the first time since the last Summer Games. Amongst the rest of the seeded players the chances are equally spread. Out of top 8, yet can reach the podium is Jorre VERSTRAETEN [BEL]. African Champion of 2016, Imad ASSOU [MAR] to lead the -66kg entry list with Kenneth VAN GANESBEKE [BEL] on second seed position. However, the ones to look out for rather be U23 European Champion, Denis VIERU [MDA]; Rio Olympian and Grand Prix winner, Jasper LEFEVERE [BEL] and 2016 Junior European Champion, Dzmitry MINKOU [BLR]. A rather intense appearance will be in the -73kg category. Jeromir JEZEK [CZE] is on the top of the entry list but despite a powerful top 8 seeds, the majority of the 59 athletes entered can also dance to the rhythm of an elite. Brazilian duet, Eduardo Yudi SANTOS and Rafael MACEDO ventured through to the final stage of the -81kg category displaying outstanding judo skills 2 weeks ago in Rome. At the time, Santos was fourth seed whilst Macedo raised from unknown. This time around, Santos leads the entry list and undoubtedly will aim to return home with another gold. Piotr KUCZERA [POL] astonished the spectators two weeks ago when he delivered a first-rate golden performance in Rome. Nothing could compare if he was able to repeat it front of his friends and family this weekend. Kuczera clipped down a few big names previously. Another one could be if he was to defeat top seed Ciril GROSSKLAUS [SUI]. Maxim RAKOV [KAZ] will make his 2017 debut in Katowice. The top seed of the -100kg category last fought at the 2016 Summer Games. Meanwhile, Aaron FARA [AUT] is on a mission to book a spot with the Austrian delegation travelling to the 2017 Europeans. To achieve it, Fara will need to shine somehow the same way he did in Rome over a week ago. The door is equitably open for all 26 athletes entered in the +100kg category with Aliaksandr VAKHAVIAK [BLR] on the top of the list. The Polish team entered 53 strong athletes to take all chances for medal record.
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