31 January 2016

APOTEKAR SHOWS TO SHINE IN SOFIA

European Open Sofia 2016

APOTEKAR SHOWS TO SHINE IN SOFIA

Gold medalist -70kg

POGACNIK, Anka (SLO)

“It is my second competition of the year as I also fought in Tunis [African Open] few weeks ago where I took bronze. The final was really thought, I threw waza-ari early and it was hard to keep my score until the end. I need points so it is a very important win for me today. I am really happy.”

-70 kg

1. POGACNIK, Anka (SLO)

2. ROBRA, Juliane (SUI)

3. AUSMA, Natascha (NED)

3. MUELLER, Lisa (GER)

Gold medalist -81kg

PAPUNASHVILI, Giorgi (GEO)

-81 kg

1. PAPUNASHVILI, Giorgi (GEO)

2. RESSEL, Dominic (GER)

3. COLLIN, Benoit (FRA)

3. DE WIT, Frank (NED)

Gold medalist -78kg

APOTEKAR, Klara (SLO)

“I am very happy. I didn’t expect to win a medal here. I only came here for experience. I only have one medal from senior tournaments and it is this gold medal I won today. The hardest fight was definitely my second contest because I was facing the number one seeded. I lost against her twice already and I know her very well and so I knew what she will do. At the end, I felt she was tired and the next thing I knew I won the contest.”

-78 kg

1. APOTEKAR, Klara (SLO)

2. RAMIREZ, Yahima (POR)

3. PARK, Yujin (KOR)

3. STEVENSON, Karen (NED)

Gold medalist -90kg

BEREZHNYI, Dmytro (UKR)

“Last year I won bronze here a weight class above and than I decided to go down to -90kg because of the Olympic Games. It is my dream to go for the Olympic Games and I think I have a chance in this weight class. Each competition for me is a special step towards success and towards the Olympic Games.”

-90 kg

1. BEREZHNYI, Dmytro (UKR)

2. ZHUKAU, Ihar (BLR)

3. SAFGULIYEV, Tural (AZE)

3. VER, Gabor (HUN)

Gold medalist +78kg

WEISS, Carolin (GER)

“I am happy to defend my title here in Sofia. My aim is to win as many medals I can in lead up to the Olympic Games and to pressure my two rivals in Germany. The truth is that I am also in the qualification zone for Rio 2016 and with five months to go anything can happen.”

+78 kg

1. WEISS, Carolin (GER)

2. PAKENYTE, Santa (LTU)

3. ADLINGTON, Sarah (GBR)

3. SLUTSKAYA, Maryna (BLR)

Gold medalist -100kg

DARWISH, Ramadan (EGY)

“This event for me was very important as I was out for almost eight months due to an injury. This is just the beginning of my return towards the Games. It was a tough day of fighting. We missed the flight in Istanbul, we slept a night on the floor at the airport and top of it all of our luggage gone lost. We stayed in the same clothes for several days. I am really satisfied as I was challenged not only by my opponents but all the hard conditions in lead up to the tournament.”

-100 kg

1. DARWISH, Ramadan (EGY)

2. CORREA, Luciano (BRA)

3. KORREL, Michael (NED)

3. TAVELURI, Lasha (GEO)

Gold medalist +100kg

MOURA, David (BRA)

“I came here to win of course. The fact that my opponent threw me for waza-ari woke me up. My aim for this year is to go to the Olympic Games and to win a medal there. It was important for me today to win as it gave me the chance to prove I am a better competitor than my rivals in Brazil.”

+100 kg

1. MOURA, David (BRA)

2. SASSON, Or (ISR)

3. MASCETTI, Alessio (ITA)

3. VAKHAVIAK, Aliaksandr (BLR)