Moldova books progress with building new junior team in Ploiesti

The junior judo team of Moldova is on the right track building a new team. The majority of the seniors left to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio and switched to the United Arab Emirates. Sergiu Toma was the successful example of the switch wining bronze U81kg but Moldova needed to build up a team from the start. At the European Cup for Juniors in Ploiesti the team is leading the medal table with two gold medals. Mihail Doncila won gold for men U55kg and Denis Vieru took gold U66kg.

Host nation Romania celebrated success snatching the last gold medal of the day by Marcel Cercea U73kg when he overcame Austrian Christopher Wagner. Stefania Dobre, favourite U57kg had to be satisfied with bronze as Ariel Bezalel of Israel won the gold. Bezalel is one of those talents who can take it over from Olympic bronze medallist Yarden Gerbi in the future.

This European Cup is the last in a series of twelve events since March. It is the last preparation for the European Championships in Malaga in September. World Cadet Champion Denislav Ivanov of Bulgaria is one of those favourites to take gold in Malaga. In Ploiesti he won the gold U60kg.

In the women’s division Cyprus can be happy with its new talent Vasiliki Kourri who won gold U44kg. She continues the success of the cadets into the junior category and won her first European Cup in this category. It was just the third European Cup victory in this age of Cyprus ever. Andreas Krassas was the first. Kateryna Sablieva of the Ukraine won gold U48kg against Molly Harvey (GBR) in the final. It was her first European Cup victory. She is in the same category as European Cadet champion Daria Bilodid. Vice cadet World Champion Tihea Topolovec won gold for Croatia U52kg. She defeated home favourite Anamaria Ioinita in the final. This year Topolovec also won in Lignano.

Tomorrow more action from Ploiesti.