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Day one of the Warsaw European Open 2025 was electric! Plenty of new talent donned the continental open circuit as well as some well seasoned successful representatives of the host nation.
In the -60kg category, there were some high hopes for Team Poland as representative Ksawery IGNASIAK and Jakub KUROWSKI were making their way through their respective quarters, but a repechage loss for Ignasiak saw him leave the tournament, and a semi final loss for Kurowski will see him compete for the bronze medal against Tornike MAZIASHVILI (GEO).
Kurowski is cementing his position as future star, at only 17 years of age, he has delivered incredible performances, with an abundance of technique and fighting spirit, however it was staved by Kazakhstan’s Aman BAKYTZHAN who eventually took the place in the final against team mate, Zagreb Grand Prix winner, Sherwood DAVLATOV. On the opposite side of the draw, Davlatov wasted no time to take his place in the -60kg final, applying the shime waza on David GAUCH (SUI) in only 10 seconds.
Angelika SZYMANSKA (POL) was a favourite in the tournament within the -63kg category, the world silver medallist taking the opportunity to fight at home for the first time since 2020 when she won the Warsaw European Open title. After a 10-second semi final, applying an instant shime waza, Szymanska ventured in the semi final against Joni GEILAN (NED), and though it didn’t come around immediately, she found her way to a juiji gatame win after a minute and a half. Facing Szymanksa for the gold medal will be Amanda ZUAZNABAR-TORRES (ROU), after defeating Ayten YEKSAN (TUR) in a gruelling golden score bout. Finally, it was a drop seoi nage and switch to ko uchi gake that scored yuko for Zuaznabar-Torres, and gave her a place in the final.
Top seed of the -66kg category, Elios MANZI (ITA) held true to his position and will fight for the gold medal against Nicolas KUNZE (GER). Manzi went to the very final seconds with Ljubljana European Open silver medallist, Jochem VAN HARTEN (NED), the latter over reaching with ko soto gake, allowing Manzi to counter with uchi mata. Kunze on the other hand, was exhausted in golden score against Bauyrzhan NARBAYEV (KAZ), even ceding two shidos, but using his last burst of energy, executed a sumi gaeshi to score yuko.
Usually in the -63kg category, Dena POHL (GER) served up a tremendous performance as an -70kg athlete on day one in Warsaw, and in just over one minute of the semi final, defeated Denmark’s Emilie SOOK with sumi gaeshi for a place in the final. Barbara TIMO (POR) also changed her -63kg spot for -70kg today, her former category where she became world medallist, and today proved she can still manage in both areas. It wasn’t an easy semi final for Timo against Kelly PETERSEN POLLARD (GBR) who is established in this category now, but experience won out in the end.
There will be another guaranteed medal for Team Italy, this time in the -73kg category from Fabrizio ESPOSITO (ITA) who defeated Ykylas ALSEIT (KAZ) in the first of the semi final contests, and he will go on to face Benjamin LEVY (GBR). Levy had an incredible journey through his preliminary rounds and finished his semi final against Diego FERNANDEZ CAMPILLO (ESP) in great style, first scoring yuko with the ‘khabareli’ front uchi mata, and even though he found himself down a waza ari after this, he kept calm and following a ko soto attempt from Diego, powered down him down for ippon.
It was almost an all-German final in the -78kg between Julie HOELTERHOFF and Lea SCHMID, however the latter suffered a semi final defeat to Karol GIMENES (BRA). Hoelterhoff managed a win over Ljubljana European Open winner, Kaila ISSOUFI (FRA), using her tall stature to defend any attempts from the French athlete. It was in fact a yuko score in sutemi waza within the first 30 seconds of the semi final which saw Hoelterhoff take the win.
Finally, the +78kg final will take place between Grace-Esther MIENANDI LAHOU (FRA) and Ruslana BULAVINA (UKR). Mienandi Lahou initially scored yuko against Tina RADIC (CRO) with an o soto gari, but in the following exchange an o uchi gari, transitioning straight in to the osae komi delivered the win. France had an opportunity for another final place with Lucie DUPIN (FRA) however Bulavina was quick off the mark with a drop sode, again taking the opportunity to finish the contest in osae komi.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen