Poland took an automatic first win against Team Ukraine in the European Youth Olympic Festival Mixed Team bronze medal contest, but it was quickly evened by Mykhailo SOLIANYK of Ukraine, scoring yuko against Jakub BORZECKI, an uchi mata brought him a waza ari score, it could have been ippon but Borzeckis reactions were lightning-quick and he managed to over rotate. However he wasn’t able to prevent the ippon score from a soto makikomi, leading to a 1:1 score.
Next, the +81kg men. Ukraine’s Serhii ZHADAN countered an attack from Dawid KAMINSKI (POL), and the score received a sumi gaeshi repsonse, which scored waza ari, leading Kaminski to the ground and an osaekomi win. 2:1 to Poland.
Nina PODYMSKA (POL) managed to put a third win on the board for her team in only 23 seconds with an ashi waza win against Daria KARPUS. Then it was time for the EYOF -60kg champion, Khazar HEYDAROV to help his team catch up. It wasn’t such an easy feat however, with Wojciech MICHALAK (POL) taking him fours minutes and 52 seconds in to golden score, but Heydarov was the one to find a score with a low o uchi gari.
It seemed they saved best till last as -63kg EYOF Champion, Ilariia TSURKAN (UKR) helped her team to 3:3. A draw.
Incredibly, after just winning her individual contest, Tsurkan was up again for the decider, a chance for Julia SIEMKO (POL) to avenge her loss from moments ago. Unfortunately for the Polish side, they were forced to settle for 5th place in the Mixed Team event as Tsurkan managed to score yuko with an osaekomi.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen