European category U57kg is full of challengers

Who is the strongest woman U57kg in Europe? On paper it is Telma Monteiro, the world’s number two is well experienced, four time European Champion and the number one of the world, how clear do you want to have it?

But on the tatami things may look different with some ultimate competition in this traditional European category. Number four seed is Automne Pavia, can you imagine, she is the World and Olympic medallist and reigning European champion. She is back from an injury and ready to send a message of this milestone this year, just a stop on her way to Astana, but Pavia is always ready to pick up a gold medal and defend her title.

One of her major rivals is Sabrina Filzmoser (4), she wants to take that Olympic challenge again and has to beat all of them and she is determined to do so. She trained a lot in Japan again, same counts for Monteiro and in the country of the Olympic champion she got the necessary skills she will need to get closer to Pavia, in Baku she has the changed as they are paired at the draw.

Miryam Roper (3) is seeded third but with a changing form, we don’t know what can happen. Last year she was in the European final and she is experienced enough to peak when she has tom but it gets tougher each year. Same counts for Corina Caprioriu (2) although she has proven to be in the top all the time, but with changing form as well.  She won the Grand Slam Baku in May and bronze in Oberwart, Samsun and Rabat, but also failed in Düsseldorf against Waechter.

German Viola Waechter is not seeded but definitely one of our favourites, in top shape, back after a long injury, happy and successful this year with and gold medal at the Grand Prix Samsun, bronze in Tunis and Tbilisi and two weeks ago in Budapest she won the silver medal. Definitely a woman you can count on, but... non seeded which does help.

Hedvig Karakas (6) Laetitia Blot (7) are seeded and able to take a medal. Number 8 seeded Nekoda Davis showcased a great form this year so far with gold in Zagreb's Grand Prix and silver at the Grand Slam in Baku. She took bronze in January in Tunis and bronze in the Grand Prix in Samsun. In this category it's also interesting to see the development of prospects such as World bronze medallist Sanne Verhagen who just missed out on the seeded positions. Same for 2013 Junior World Champion Arleta Podolak (POL), European U23 Champion Nora Gjakova (KOS), Spanish talent Jaione Equisoain and all are non-seeded but expected to stunt against the seeded players.

What a great category this is.