EJUPreview women European Championships Vienna

Avtor: EJU
Datum: 21. 04. 2010
Women U48

> The highest ranked Eva Csernoviczky (HUN) opens against Ewa Konieczny (POL). While Olympic Champion and five times European Champion Alina Dumitru (ROU) will face Irish talent Lisa Kearney.

> Interesting is also the confrontation between Michaela Baschin (GER), who bronze last year and in 2006, and 19-year old Turkish talent Derya Cibir who is national champion and won bronze at the World Junior Championship last year.

> A nice confrontation between Belgium World Cup winner in Sofia Charline van Snick and Dutch Birgit Ente, finalist of the European U23 championships.

Women U52

> Natalia Kuzyutina (RUS), reigning European Champion will face either Alesia Staravereva (BLR) or Petra Steinbauer (AUT) which should be a doable start for the Russian double European Champion, She also won the U23 title in November.

> Spanish Ana Carrascosa who won the bronze at the 2009 Worlds will meet Marta Kuban (POL) in the first round, but Carrascosa leads in Head2heads 2-0.

> Dutch Kitty Bravik may have a chance this year to prolong her medal of Tbilisi where she won the bronze. Bravik won 8 European medals in her career in 4 different age categories.

> Majlinda Kelmendi (ALB) will be one of the youngest participants (18) at the European Championships. Competing for Albania in international events, Kelmendi is originally from Kosovo which is not yet recognised by the international sports federations and IOC. Kelmendi won the World Junior title last year in France and may face Bravik in the semi final.

> Experienced 33-year old Ilse Heylen (BEL) also won 8 European medals but including 3 in the teams and only in the seniors. Last year she shared the bronze with Bravik. This year she again has good chances to reach the semi final.

Women U57

> This category is really strong despite this year. A new wave is blowing since some old successful warriors have retired, and new energy comes in. The complete podium at the 2009 World Championships was European. (pictured)

> Highest ranked Telma Monteiro (POR) will face double Slovenian Champion Tina Trstenjak. Telma Monteiro (POR) has an impressive 90.4% record at European Championships, winning 19 matches out of 21.

> World Champion Morgane Ribout (FRA) may have a stronger opponent in Dutch talented bullfighter Juul Franssen, vice world champion in the junior category. But the technician Ribout shouldnžt have any troubles with Franssen if she can reach her form of last August which was phenomenal. The tactically strong Franssen should have a good plan to beat the world champion, but if anyone can, she can as she is relatively new and is able to score real points.

> Home favourite Sabrina Filzmoser (AUT), European Champion in 2008 will have to work hard to win a medal. She may meet Hungarian World U20 champion Hedvig Karakas in the quarter final.

> Giulia Quintavalle (ITA), one of the four participating Olympic Champions, will face Julie Baeyens. The Belgian athlete should prove how to deal with seniors like Quintavalle as she said goodbye to the U23 category with a bronze medal at the U23 Europeans last year in Antalya. 2008 Olympic Champion Giulia Quintavalle has never won a European medal.

> Letžs not forget Corina Caprioriu (ROU), who was the most successful participant U57kg this year winning the World Cup of Sofia and Warsaw and bronze at the IJF GP of Düsseldorf. Shežs the only participant who have won a World Cup this year.

Women U63

> The traditionally strong category U63 shows some strong participants again. Grand Slam of Paris winner Emane Gevrise (FRA) will face European U20 champion Edwige Gwend from Italy. Gwend is tough, but will have a hard job in the strong Emane who successfully shuffled from the U70 to U63 last year. She is one of the favourites to win her first European title in this category, in 2006 and 2007 she won the title U70kg.

> The other big favourite is Elisabeth Willeboordse (NED), the vice world champion of Rotterdam. Itžs her ambition to win another European medal as it is four year ago that she won a medal, in 2005 she won the European title. This year in Paris Emane beat Willeboordse in the semi final.

> Israelian Alice Schlesinger should be able to prolong her medal of last year in Tbilisi as she also won the bronze at the World Championships.

> Reigning European Champion Urska Zolnir (SLO) and German Claudia Malzahn are missing, but have good substitutes in Clauda Ahrens (GER) and Vlora Bedzeti (SLO).

Women U70

> Traditionally a strong category, but this time weaker due to the absence of European Champion Lucie Decosse (FRA), Former European and World Champion Edith Bosch (NED) and 2008 European Champion Heide Wollert (GER). Nonetheless some worthwhile participants to look forward to like World finalist Anett Meszaros from Hungary. She is the top favourite to reach the final.

> In the other side of the table Rasa Sraka (SLO) is getting better and on her way back. She won the European title in 2003 and will face rookie Bernadette Graf from Austria whožs the youngest participant for Austria with 17 years.

> Cecilia Blanco (ESP) is another veteran, and the oldest participant in this category aged 31. She was in a European final twice, but wasnžt able to win. Sweet memories though, is was however in 2001 and 2004a, though she was close last year to win a medal but lost another (small) final for bronze. This year she may have better chances.

Women U78

> The category U78kg is exceptionally strong. In the past it may not have been the strongest category, but the world finalists of Rotterdam both take part.

> Although Maryna Pryshchepa (UKR) won silver at the worlds as last yearžs Europeans, she is eager to win the gold this time and adding her fourth European medal.

> Abigel Joo (HUN) may cross her plans, The U23 European Champion made a successful move to this category and may be a danger to Pryshchepa in a possible quarter final.

> Lucie Louette (FRA) and Luise Malzahn (GER) are strong too. Despite the 15 participants, the category is strong.

> In the other table World Champion Marhinde Verkerk (NED), who finally won the battle against injuries and is eager to add another major title. The physical strong Verkerk may be the favourite, but shouldnžt underestimate her first opponent, Flora Mkhitaryan from Russia, who didnžt show too much lately but is of the same age of Verkerk. They know eachother quite well, but didnžt fight eachother many times. The last time in a major tournament was in 2006 when Verkerk beat Mkhitaryan at the Super World Cup in Moscow.

Women O78

> Highest ranked Lucija Polavder (SLO) defeated her first opponent Svitlana Iaromka three times last year and can add another victory in her first fight on Saturday. Polavder is always one of the favourites, but we never know what veteran Karina Bryant (GBR) can do. Bryant won four European titles in this category and had a good comeback at the World Championships last year winning the silver, her fifth silver, so not a guarantee for gold this time. But 31-year Bryant is eager to win a European medal again, which is five years ago.

> Eva Bisseni (FRA) was strong in the pre season and they are all in the same side of the table.

> Carola Uilenhoed (NED) versus Donguzashvili (RUS) is a must have seen on Saturday. They won 14 European and World medals together, but only one title. Donguzashvili won the Open title in 2006, but collected a record of six European silver medals, what to think about that. At least it makes her one of the favourites for a medal if she can beat Uilenhoed who has a strong reputation but also lost two European Championships finals.
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