The Prague Junior European Cup 2024 can boast of three world ranked number one athletes competing one the 6th and 7th of July.
Along with over 400 athletes from 25 nations, Igor TSURKAN (UKR) is leading the ranking for European athletes as he heads the -81kg category. Taking a silver medal in the Junior European Championships 2023, he is preparing himself to take the gold in Tallinn come September. So far in this year he has earned a hat-trick of Junior European Cup gold medals in Sarajevo, Rijeka and Kaunas, even testing the waters in the Podcetrtek Senior European Cup, and taking silver. Signs all point to another success this weekend but he will have an interesting competition this week with Panamerican rivalries including WRL #3 Dominic RODRIGUEZ (USA) and a triple threat from Brazil; Enzo TROMBINI (#10), Luan ALMEIDA (#21) and Caio BARBOSA (#38). Heading off the Brazilian entry however is the Birmingham Junior European Cup winner, Joshua DE LANGE (NED).
Brazil are certainly sending some of their best, with the remaining top ranked athletes being Kaillany CARDOSO (-70kg) and Bianca REIS (-57kg). The latter will have a home rivalry on her hands also, the WRL #2 Beatriz COMANCHE (BRA) will be battling for the top place on her team. Though we know the #3 seed, Michela TERRANOVA (ITA), scanning the top eight, there is another superstar from Italy, but seemingly in the wrong category.
Guilia CARNA (ITA) took the Junior European title last year, as well as the Junior World silver medal, but in the -52kg category. This will be in fact the first time she has competed since earning these tremendous accolades and it will be interesting to see how she fares against her new competition. Also in this category, we have Nino LOLADZE, who assisted the Georgian team to a World Mixed Team bronze medal in Abu Dhabi, defeating the likes of PUPP Reka (HUN) and Pauline STARKE (GER), both of whom will be competing in the upcoming Olympic Games.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen