The Emirates Area will once again play host to the Glasgow European Open. On Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of October over 300 athletes from 31 countries will take to the tatami.
Rio De Janeiro Olympic bronze medallist, Laura VARGAS KOCH of Germany will be competing on day 2 in the -70kg category, coming in as #3 seed. With a strong German women’s team in this weight, VARGAS KOCH will be looking to surpass team mate Miriam BUTKEREIT. The #2 seed in this tournament, BUTKEREIT is the third highest German athlete in the world rankings for the -70kg category, sitting just behind Szaundra DIEDRICH and Giovanna SCOCCIMARRO.
The women’s weight categories continue to have a plethora of talent, Lubjana PIOVESANA (GBR) will be looking to continue her European Open success following her gold medal in Minsk earlier this year in the -63kg category.
The -66kg #1 seed, Kenneth VAN GANSBEKE (BEL) also had success in 2018 in the European Open in Madrid, the strong athlete could make this his second this year.
Madrid European Open gold medallist, OHAT Zalan (HUN) will be Europe’s highest seeded medal hope in the -100kg category coming in as the #2 seed to Saidzhalol SAIDOV (TJK). Also looking to make a mark in Glasgow is Jur SPIJKERS (NED), the 21 year-old +100kg category athlete has certainly made his mark on the senior circuit. After a successful cadet and junior career, SPIJKERS has taken a bronze in the Tbilisi Grand Prix this year as well as a more recent bronze in the Minsk European Open.
The local, Scottish crowd will be rallying behind their athletes, namely MCWATT, the -81kg is really on form this year, unfortunately going out of the World Championships to the former World Champion, Alexander WIECZERZAK (GER). Also Malin WILSON in the -57kg category, both athletes storming the Bratislava Senior European Cup last month, leaving with gold medals.
As the latest stop on the road to Tokyo 2020, the Glasgow European Open comes right after the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Undoubtedly we will see a great deal of talent at the World Ranking event over the two days. The host nation has a 68-strong British team, the crowd will not be disappointed by the home talent including World Championships participants, Stuart MCWATT (-81kg) and Katie-Jemima YEATS-BROWN (-78kg).
High-class judo will be seen across the two days as Olympic medallists will also be stepping on the tatami in a bid to climb the World rankings within this Olympic cycle.
France has a robust entry for this tournament, amongst those, Automne PAVIA (-57kg), World and Olympic bronze medallist and Astride GNETO (-52kg), a successful junior athlete, progressing in to senior, medalling in the Paris Grand Slam earlier this year. The -70kg category will be one to watch as World bronze medallist Fanny Estelle POSVITE (FRA) is the #1 seed for this European Open.
Rio De Janeiro Olympic bronze medallist, Laura VARGAS KOCH of Germany will be competing on day 2 in the -70kg category, coming in as #3 seed. With a strong German women’s team in this weight, VARGAS KOCH will be looking to surpass team mate Miriam BUTKEREIT. The #2 seed in this tournament, BUTKEREIT is the third highest German athlete in the world rankings for the -70kg category, sitting just behind Szaundra DIEDRICH and Giovanna SCOCCIMARRO.
The women’s weight categories continue to have a plethora of talent, Lubjana PIOVESANA (GBR) will be looking to continue her European Open success following her gold medal in Minsk earlier this year in the -63kg category.
The -66kg #1 seed, Kenneth VAN GANSBEKE (BEL) also had success in 2018 in the European Open in Madrid, the strong athlete could make this his second this year.
Madrid European Open gold medallist, OHAT Zalan (HUN) will be Europe’s highest seeded medal hope in the -100kg category coming in as the #2 seed to Saidzhalol SAIDOV (TJK). Also looking to make a mark in Glasgow is Jur SPIJKERS (NED), the 21 year-old +100kg category athlete has certainly made his mark on the senior circuit. After a successful cadet and junior career, SPIJKERS has taken a bronze in the Tbilisi Grand Prix this year as well as a more recent bronze in the Minsk European Open.
The local, Scottish crowd will be rallying behind their athletes, namely MCWATT, the -81kg is really on form this year, unfortunately going out of the World Championships to the former World Champion, Alexander WIECZERZAK (GER). Also Malin WILSON in the -57kg category, both athletes storming the Bratislava Senior European Cup last month, leaving with gold medals.
