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Poland are sending the top team for women to the Warsaw European Open, starting with Angelika SZYMANSKA in the -63kg category. The ne waza specialist took silver in the 2024 World Championships in Abu Dhabi, but prior to her world achievement, had made herself a permanent presence on the IJF World Judo Tour, winning a Grand Slam gold in Baku, adding to her now six-medal collection. The last time she competed in the Warsaw European Open event was in 2020 when she took the gold, and she will be looking to repeat history and celebrate with the home crowd.
Taking top seeded positions in the -52kg and +78kg category, Aleksandra KALETA and Kinga WOLSZCZAK will be hyping up the crowds.
The -70kg category will see IJF World Tour regulars, Aoife COUGHLAN (AUS) and Kelly PETERSEN POLLARD (GBR) vying for a final together as the top seeds, but will be rivalled by home favourite Eliza WROBLEWSKA who took the silver in the 2023 edition of the Warsaw European Open.
In the lightweight categories, there are a series of athletes within the same ranking range; Lois PETIT (BEL) has been on the scene for some time and will lead the -48kg category, followed by Amber GERSJES (NED) who sits just one place behind in the WRL at #44, and then at #45, Laura ESPADINHA (FRA). In the fourth seeding position, rising star of the Spanish team, Eva PEREZ SOLER continues to rise in the ranking, gaining 500 points following a bronze medal win last week in the Baku Grand Slam.
Eyes will also be following the Swiss team in the -70kg category, in Ljubljana, Gioia VETTERLI took her second European Open gold, following a win in Warsaw in 2023. Discussing the win after the competition, Vetterli explained that another medal in Warsaw could mean selection for higher level events, but she is chasing down team mates Alina LENGWEILER who is also competing this weekend, as well as April Lynn FOHOUO, current Junior European Champion and Junior World silver medallist.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen