European names shine early as Berlin cadet event opens at full speed

Day one of the Cadet European Cup in Berlin wasted no time delivering intensity. Eight titles were decided in the lighter weight categories, with gold medals going to Azerbaijan, France, Israel, the Republic of Moldova, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. Germany, competing at home, came close but did not reach the podium, finishing with one fifth place and two seventh places.

Several of the biggest moments came from European athletes. France’s Jade Barray was one of the standout stories in the -40 kg category, claiming her first European Cup gold medal. A year after losing in the opening round in Berlin, the 15-year-old returned with much more control and confidence, worked through the draw, and defeated Azerbaijan’s Sunay Salamova in the final during golden score with a decisive strangle from ne-waza.

Jade Barray turned last year's Berlin setback into a breakthrough gold run.

Türkiye’s Yagmur Yilmazturk added another major result in -44 kg. She captured a third straight European Cup title, but Italy’s Sofia Longo made her work for every second of it. After a demanding final that stretched into golden score, Yilmazturk found the winning action with kata-guruma for waza-ari after 38 seconds of extra time.

The Republic of Moldova also had a medal-winning moment to remember. In -52 kg, Alexandra Chiron overcame Serbia’s Teodora Vukasovic in a tense final. After absorbing pressure in the standing exchanges, she produced the decisive score in the closing seconds with ura-nage for waza-ari.

Uzbekistan’s Charos Hikmatova controlled the -48 kg final from the start, while the men’s lighter categories brought more sharp finishes. Azerbaijan’s Nihad Aghayev needed only 33 seconds to win the -50 kg title, and Farid Khudiyev took the all-Azerbaijani -55 kg final with Seoi-nage in the closing minute. Uzbekistan’s Abubakr Sattorov then claimed -60 kg by moving into tate-shiho-gatame for Ippon.

Israel’s Itamar Cohen completed the roll of honour in -66 kg and gave Europe another reason to celebrate. He beat Bulgaria’s Vladimir Todorov in golden score with O-uchi-gari to take his first European Cup gold medal. It was a composed finish to a long day and one of the clearest breakthrough moments of the event so far.

Several European contenders left Berlin day one with real momentum.

Attention now shifts to the heavier divisions on day two. If the opening sessions are any sign, Berlin still has more drama to give.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union