Kathrin Unterwurzacher regains her gold medal

In the category for women U63kg it was Kathrin Unterwurzacher who was the clear favourite for the final. She has a reputation in this championship with a gold medal in 2011 and silver last year in Prague. She felt today was her day for the gold again. In the final she met with Maelle Di Cintio of France who was expected to appear in the final phase.

After two minutes in the match it was the first real attack by Unterwurzacher that was immediately successful. Unterwurzacher regained the title, supported by her fanatic team mates on the tribune.

The Austrian won her four fights against Bulgarian hope Gencheva, Patockova (CZE) and Barkeling (SWE) in the semi final. Di Cintio defeated Murashko of the Ukraine, Kerckhove (BEL) and Pari Surakatova (RUS) in the semis.

For bronze Surakatova was leading quickly by wazari against Emma Barkeling Pettersson (SWE) and kept her lead in her last match despite two penalties. However 10 seconds for the end it was Barkeling to strike back by waza-ari and then it was the Swedish who claimed the bronze. She is the first Swedish woman to take a European U23 medal. She defeated Valkova (RUS), Giorgis (Italy) but lost the semi against Unterwurzacher before she defeated Surakatova.

The bronze fight between Andreja Dakovic (CRO) and Valentina Giorgis (Italy) was a thriller. Dakovic was leading by yuko halfway the match but Giorgis kept the pressure up, but couldn’t prevent Croatian Dakovic to medal as first of her country.