Andjela Samardzic ends Bosnia's gold medal draught in Sarajevo

Egypt performed strongly at the European Cup for seniors in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina on Saturday, the opening day. But the most cherished medal went to Andjela Samardzic who won gold in Sarajevo for her country. Her sister Aleksandra, a former gold medallist, was there to support her, as was the legendary coach, Brane Crnogorac. Andjela Samardzic ended a five-year gold medal draught for the host nation.

Big Bosnian judo names who have won gold in Sarajevo include Larisa Ceric, Amel Mekic and Aleksandra Samardzic. Now they have someone new to cheer for.

Sarajevo facilitates a nice level for seniors that need match rhythm and a certain level of competition but not yet at IJF World Tour level.

The Bosnian Judo Federation is always super active when it comes to organsing judo events. It has organized all sorts of youth European Championships and Cadet World Championships in 2015 and again this year. They have the ability to organize a good European Cup for seniors and warm up for those World Championships for cadets in August.

Many top athletes competed in Sarajevo at one time or another in their careers. Past winners in Sarajevo who later became Olympic champions include names like Agbegnenou, Trstenjak, Kelmendi, Andeol, Khaibulaev, Khalmurzaev and Japanese Akira Sone. They have all stayed in the same hotels, and fought in the same hall.

Lightweight Youssry Samy (EGY) and the experienced Mohamed Abdelmawgoud (EGY) took care of the medals for Egypt today and gave the country the lead in the medal table.

Today’s men’s lightweight category became a victory for Egyptian Youssry Samy who overcame Csanad Feczko (HUN) in the final, with bronze medals for Bekirbek Morgoyev (UKR) and Joshua Giles (GBR),

Mohamed Abdelmawgoud (EGY) repeated the gold medal of his compatriot and needed to defeat Israel’s Natanel Zhurvel in the final. Charlie Young (GBR) and Artyom Ghalachyan (ARM) captured a bronze medal.

In the eleventh edition of this European Cup in Sarajevo there were 237 participants, comparable to the last 4 editions and including 33 men for the U73kg category, the most crowded division.

Botond Toth (HUN) defeated Arsen Avedisyan (ARM) in that final with Luca Rubeca (ITA) and Ukraine’s Artem Khomula for bronze.

Again, Belgium’s smoking gun U48kg Lois Petit captured the gold. Two weeks ago, she won gold in Dubrovnik. In Sarajevo, she defeated Nevena Milic (SRB). Her compatriot Jente Verstraeten (BEL) captured a bronze medal with Paulina Szlachta (POL) standing next to her on the podium with a bronze-coloured medal. This time gold for the younger sister of Jorre Verstraeten who won bronze last week at the senior Europeans, a good family performance. Petit gave herself a good 23rd birthday present which she celebrated on Friday.

In the women’s U52kg, Nawaliatou Babio (FRA) won the gold against Belgian Fiona Vanbiesbroeck. Great to see Anja Stangar (SLO) back on the podium. She suffered cancer and perhaps she deserves a bronze medal with definitely a gold shiny edge after coming back with such a disease. She always kept positive and this is what you get. Klaudia Cieślik (POL) was standing next to Stangar.

Bosnia cheered for Andjela Samardzic (BIH) who was able to capture the gold medal in her own Sarajevo. Her sister won six European Cups in the Bosnian capital, this time she could proudly applaud for Andjela. She defeated Germany’s Jana Ziegler in the final. Olivia Gertsch (SUI) and Sacha Buwalda (NED) claimed a bronze medal in a field of 14 women.

Israel is everywhere where there is judo. This time Inbal Shemesh took the gold medal. She is on good form as she also took the gold in Dubrovnik in her division U63kg and it seems she can smell a higher level of judo soon. Shemesh was always in the IJF World Tour and took medals in Agadir’s Grand Prix and of course at home in Tel Aviv she was on the podium two years ago. She seems back at her level with a golden victory against Kaja Schuster (SLO). Aytaj Gardashkhanli (AZE) and Brigitta Varga (HUN) took a valuable bronze medal.