Lightweights Azerbaijan determine medal table in Bielsko Biala

Azerbaijan is the best nation at the first day of the European Cup for Cadets in Bielsko Biala. Not surprisingly the lightweights of Azerbaijan took most of the medals on Saturday. Rovshan Aliyev won his third medal of the season in Fuengirola, Antalya and now in Poland.

In the final the 50kg judoka defeated Ugo Machefer of France. In the category U55kg Vusal Ibrahimov celebrated the victory after his victory versus Mark Hristov of Bulgaria. More than 500 judoka are gathered in Bielsko Baiala for the European Cup and the trainingcamp next week. Two Japanese participants won bronze U55kg and U66kg.

Hungarian Bence Pongracz won his second European Cup. In the category U60kg he won in Follonica and now in Bielsko Biala after he overcame Eren Aksoy of Turkey.

Latvia won its first European Cup in this age category U18 years since 2011. Artjoms Galaktionovs won the category U66kg. Although a victory in this age category is not a success in a senior category, it does give hope to the modest judo nation of Latvia.

In the women’s division this year’s Hungarian junior champion Brigitta Varga won the Cadet European Cup U40kg. Varga defeated French Charlene Quilghini. Shafag Hamidova of Azerbaijan added the third gold medal for her country. In the final she was stronger than Ukrainian talent Anastasiia Perekhrest.

Tugce Beder took the victory for Turkey, in the final U48kg she defeated German Mascha Ballhaus and two French athletes won bronze. Renata Zachova won gold for the Czech Republic. She continues the way up where Vera Zemanova already won gold in Fuengirola. Zachova defeated Alexandra Maroti (HUN) in the final.

No medal so far for the host nation Poland, but tomorrow there’s more action from Bielsko Biala where future heros already won gold in previous editions:  Aaron Wolf (JPN), Aleksandra Samardžić (BIH),  Brigita Matić (CRO), Genki Koga (JPN) to name a few.