European Junior women go for gold in Oberwart

The young women of Europe fight in Oberwart today at the first day of the European Junior Championships. A strong category U52kg with 29 participants, but let’s kick-off with the category U44kg with just 9 participants, so a good overview of the potential medallists.

Two strong Turkish young women are well seeded, Melisa Cakmakli won two European Cups, and she is separated from Amber Gersjes who dominated so far this season. The tiny Dutch lady won four European Cups and can be considered as the favourite. Last year she finished fifth and in 2012 she won the Cadet European title, this year she seems to be ready, unless she was in form too soon. At least she was one of the most successful juniors this season over all categories. Today we will know if she meets with her Spanish rival or perhaps Sitora Boymatova (RUS) in the semi. Yana Schmitz (GER) is a tough opponent for Tugba Yayla.

Reka Pupp of Hungary is one of the toughest competitors U48kg. Pupp felt the bathwater in the seniors and those hard matches must now pay out in Oberwart. Cristina Budescu (MDA), Joana Diogo (POR) and Daria Bobrikova (RUS) are the highest seeds but it’s no guarantee for success who will become the best out of 23. With Borislava Damyanova, Marine Baumans pool D is huge. Budescu vs Corcher can be a nice match. The French was one of the most successful this season in the European Cups.

Astride Gneto of France is the highest seed U52kg, a category with 29 partipants. Only in 2012 this category had a field of 30 women but the winner can be proud. Who will follow up Odette Giuffrida (ITA). Gneto who’s in the pool with Distria Krasniqi (KOS) won silver last year and Portuguese Mariana Esteves won three European Cups this season. She is in pool C, while Anja Stangar (SLO) is the best seed in pool B. Pool D includes Larisa Florian (ROU) with Tamara Silva (SUI) and youngster Mariam Janashvili (GEO).

Dutch Dewy Karthaus was on the podium four times this season, three times as winner of a European Cup and she is the favourite and highest seed U57kg. Last year she won bronze in Bucharest. Another bronze medallist is also expected now, Sarah Harachi of France. She is in the pool with Stefania Dobre (ROU). Last year’s fifth Bekky Livesey (GBR) gained much more experience this year and is considered as one of the favourites for a medal. The tall Dutch senior champion Hilde Jager is an outsider as well in that pool. Another British, Jodie Caller is added to the pool of Tecla Cadilla of Spain, anyone can be the winner of that pool. Who will be the successor of Anna Borowska of Poland, follow JudoInside and you will know the backgrounds of the winners.