One sensational day of judo at European Open Glasgow

A strong team of Great Britain will appear at the Glasgow Open in Scotland this weekend. All condensed on one day the 14 categories will challenge the crowd to follow all the developments from the stands. With some interesting fighters this Euro Open, last this season, will be a good event to watch.

The men’s U60 will have Glasgow boy Neil MacDonald (GBR) in the lineup, but also Spanish Joaquin Gomes and Dutch European U21 Champion Tornike Tsjakadoea is in the game for the medals on Saturday.

French David Larose started his international career with the Junior world title in 2004 in Budapest. He won two European medals U66kg and won 5 World Cups and 18 Judo World cup medals. Larose won the Grand Slam in Paris twice and despite his international efforts are lower, he is still the top man in this category. However enough French competitors in this class as well as talented Brazilian Daniel Cargnin, world junior bronze medallist in 2015. Also two Brazilians U73kg, and Brazil’s former Junior World Champion Rafael Macedo will also be looking to make a mark in Glasgow having taken -81kg silver in Tallinn last month. Dominic Ressel (GER) is an expert on British ground with at least one big fan on the stands, his British girlfriend Amy Livesey. Also lined up, Benjamin Muennich who won gold in Belgrade last weekend. He dropped off his huge cup and will give it another try, this time for qualification points. Strong British fighters U90kg in Frazer Chamberlain, Gary Hall and Max Stewart, but also Germany sent three keen fighters. Dutchman Simeon Catharina can be expected in the final stages U100kg but also young Brazilian Leonardo Goncalves is a Dark horse.

Maybe the smallest of the bunch, Frenchman Jean-Sebastien Bonvoisin, is a hard man to throw, and can still surprise himself. His German equivalent Dino Pfeiffer is outsider as well for the victory in the plus.

France, Germany and Holland have good contenders U48kg while Brazil might top the table U52kg if they beat Polish Karolina Pienkowska who will be looking to continue her run of form which has seen her win gold and bronze at the Zagreb and Budapest Grand Prix this year while Kelly Edwards (GBR) wants to showcase her skills for the home crowd. She won a first Grand Prix medal in Zagreb last month. Canada’s Jessica Klimkait can be expected in the medal phase U57kg and U63kg the British have chances with Lucy Renshall and Lubjana Piovesana. Enough competition in this category where U70 Dutch Sanne van Dijke is a strong medal contender. Her comeback is interesting as also Natascha Ausma was in a good shape over the last year but had to cancel Glasgow due to an elbow injury. Dutchies Karen Stevenson and Larissa Groenwold rule U78kg when the established athletes (Verkerk and Steenhuis) stay at home. They will now deal with the international rivals such as a hand full of French athletes. British Jodie Myers has a chance, but three Brazilian ladies are steaming to perform in Europe.