Russian men and Italian women take the gold in Coimbra

Russia and Italy were strong at the second day of the Junior European Cup in Coimbra, Portugal. Russia claimed another four medals on Sunday. Especially in the men’s division three our of the four categories turned into Russian gold. The Italian women took two gold medals in the three women’s divisions, Russia won the third.

Dutchman Lars Vissers was the only category without Russian participants. He claimed the gold U100kg after two victories against Polish opponents in a field of just 7 European talents. Also the heavyweight category had a small field of nine. Akhmed Magomadov won the gold after an all-Russian final against Dimitrii Iakushev.

Also the U90kg class delivered an all-Russian final between Adam Sangariev and Ikhvan Edilsultanov that Sangariev won. Daniil Dranovskii claimed the victory U81kg against Belgian talent Jitse van den Herrewegen. The Belgians sent a hopeful team and claimed three medals this weekend. The Russians though topped the medal table with five gold medals and eleven medals in total. The Netherlands finished second as on Saturday three Dutch women took gold. Still the Italian women did even slightly better with three gold medals and seven in total.

On Sunday the Italians Assunta Scutto and Veronica Toniolo didn’t surprise with a gold medal. The Italians always have golden generations and Scutto had already taken gold at senior level in Zagreb this year. This time she was able to defeat Dutch talent Joshlyn Supusepa in the final U48kg in a competitive field. Not just the 19 participants but the quality level was quite high with bronze medals for Glafira Borisova (RUS) and Raquel Brito of Portugal who defeated Jente Verstraeten for bronze. Brito delivered the fourth medal for Portugal this weekend.

U52kg Italy took silver after Ylenia Monaco couldn’t resist the Russian opposition of Liliia  Nugaeva in the final. Veronica Toniolo, under the guidance of her coaching dad, took gold against Pihla Salonen of Finland. For Finland the first final at European Junior level since April 2018. For Toniolo who already competed at Grand Slam level, a good practice and actually her first Junior European Cup victory in her category U57kg. The Junior European bronze medallist and former Cadet European Champion needed five victories for the gold medal.