Medals for Mighty Women Judoists

Avtor: Sportal
Datum: 27. 05. 2003
Medals for Mighty Women Judoists

Slovenian women judoists made history at the European Judo Championships in Germany's Düsseldorf. Raša Sraka, Petra Nareks and Lucija Polavder unexpectedly improved their results from last year's EC in Maribor, when they won two bronze after a "dry spell" of more than thirty years.
Polavder harbingered her team's success as she made an excellent show in the open category, although she usually competes in the category up to 78 kilos, and won a bronze medal. Her success was supplemented on the same day by teammate Petra Nareks (up to 52 kg), who ended the "bronze age" of Slovenian judo with second spot. The results of the two were only outdone by Raša Sraka, who became the new European champion in the category up to 70 kilos. Sraka added a gold to the bronze medal she won in Maribor last year.

Prior to this year's championships, the management said the team would hardly outdo last year's success of two bronze medals. The atmosphere on the team was good following the preparations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and the men's training in Hungary, but the Slovenian Judo Association did not even dare to think of such success. Sraka provided a real treat for judo fans, and beat the darling of the home crowd of more than 2,500 spectators. She was well-familiar with her opponent in the finals, the 21-year Heide Wollert of Germany, as she has defeated Wollert several times in her career. Sraka would not let herself be taken by surprise. Despite a recent shoulder injury, she squeezed out her last atoms of strength and made the best possible finish prior to the September World Championships in Japan.

"I'm not yet fully aware of what I've achieved. I'm certainly very happy. I knew before the final duel that I was in for some hard work, with the crowd on the opponent's side. Luckily, I put up an excellent fight and managed to make my wishes come true. I hope these series of successes will continue in the future. Once the injury, which has been quite an impediment, has mended, I will focus on getting ready for the World Championships," young Sraka said upon her victory.

Women judoists, whose success at last year's EC earned them the nickname "the mighty Slovenian women" after an exceptional generation of young women skiers, have good prospects for the high point of this season - the World Championships in Osaka between September 11 and 14. By placing in one of the first five spots, Slovenian women judosits will earn a ticket to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and make their dreams come true. STA

photo: STA