Germany strong at European Cup in Uster

An excellent day for the German judoka on Saturday at the first European Cup of the season in Uster, near Zurich airport. Germany is the most successful nation in the history of the tournament and in the 2016 edition the German’s take the lead in the medal table after one day.

Four gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals give Germany the lead followed by the Dutch judoka with two gold medals and four bronze. Belgium won a gold medal U52kg by Myriam Blavier. The Belgian junior is in a good shape this year and won senior edition of the Tournament in Arlon and the Belgian Junior title in February. In the final U52kh she defeated Swiss favourite Tamara Silva.

Dutch Junior champion Kim Akker won the final U48kg against German Katharina Menz who was recently crowned national senior champion of Germany. Germany won the two remaining categories U57kg by Theresa Stoll, while sister Amelie took bronze. Theresa Stoll defeated Swiss champion Emilie Amaron in the final. The last two years Amaron won the Swiss Open. Dutch Margriet Bergstra won bronze after her loss against Amaron.

Rebecca Brauninger took gold U63kg. In the final she overcame Spanish Angeles Lopez who defeated Swiss favourite Larissa Csatari. But the Swiss came back via the double repechage and won all her next three matches to take bronze in the end but coujdn’t claim gold like last year. Maxime Heyns captured bronze for Belgium.

In the men’s  division German won gold U66 and U73kg by Manuel Scheibel and Julian Kolein. Scheibel defeated Alvaro Rios of Spain, Kolein beat Anders Hvidkaer in the final. Kolein also won Celje in 2015. Danish Hvidkaer was again able to win a medal in Uster like last year. He was the first Danish man in a final since November 2014.

Dutchman Bas Koffijberg captured gold U60kg in the final against Kimran Borchashvili.