It was the perfect way to start the final block of U23 European Championships 2024. The -81kg men were first up and an exciting contest looked to be unfolding between Kote KAPANADZE (GEO) and Bright MADDALONI NOSA (ITA), with some strong kumi kata. However it was more controlled for Kapanadze who scored an unmistakeable ippon with sode tsurikomi goshi, launching his opponent for the U23 European title.
An almighty clash occurred in the -70kg category, the current Junior World Champion, Elena DENGG (AUT) took on the two-time (and reigning) U23 European Champion, Samira BOCK (GER). An early exchange saw Bock show concern about a potential injury however she continued to power on through. In spite of the injury, Bock went in to golden score with Dengg, picking up two shidos to one. After a further minute and a half of contest time, Dengg found her opening, initiating the movement with o soto gari, she looked to double up with a ko soto, however the momentum was already sending Bock down for the winning score. Another title for Dengg!
Next year the U23 European Championships will be held in Moldova, and as per tradition, members of the Moldovan Judo Federation were in attendance in Pila, including president, Andrei GOLBAN. Mihail LATISEV (MDA) gave a stellar performance in the -90kg category today, impressing his delegation and eventually taking a spot in the final against Ian VAN HERK (NED). After a few attempts and dominating the contest, a ballistic drop seoi nage was the winning ticket, bringing himself and Moldova the gold medal.
In the 2023 edition of the U23 European Championships, Yael VAN HEEMST (NED) placed third, and she returned this year, but in the -78kg final, and on this occasion it was against team mate, Maria HANSTEDE. The control instantly came from Van Heemst, initiating the attacks and appearing the more confident of the two, and in one minute and a half, won the U23 title with a driving o uchi gari!
It was a long slog for the -100kg men in the final, Viktor ADAM (SVK) and Lars VISSERS (NED). The pair headed in to golden score, and really there was no clear leader in the contest, but the score came from a unique entry from Vissers. Though he drove with his head for a kata guruma style technique, he then used his leg in sumi gaeshi fashion to score his title winning waza ari, and secure another gold for Team Netherlands.
The +78kg women; Yuli Alma MISHINER (ISR) and Diana SEMCHENKO (UKR) found themselves in quite the stalemate, unable to find a way to score against the other. Though they’d have liked for their final to end in a positive manner, after three minutes and 45 seconds of golden score, a third shido was issued to Semchenko, deciding the final result.
Closing out the incredible tournament here in Pila, Poland, were the +100kg men and in the final, Gzregorz TERESINSKI of Poland brought the crowd to life, facing Irakli DEMETRASHVILI (GEO) for the gold medal. Though the crowd were entirely behind their man, it was last years silver medallist from Georgia that was crowned the U23 European Champion, a huge ashi guruma sealing his fate. It was a sure crowd silencer.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen