Belgian Judo Team Faces Mixed results at Warsaw European Open
The European Judo Open in warsaw saw belgian judoka Jente Verstraeten narrowly miss out on a bronze medal in the under 48 kg category.
Verstraeten, currently ranked 124th in the world, showcased her skills by advancing through the early rounds. She secured a victory over Poland’s Oliwia Onysk via waza-ari and followed that up with an impressive ippon win against Turkey’s Ebru sahin. Though, her journey was halted in the semi-finals by Japan’s Hikari Yoshioka, who ultimately claimed the gold medal.
In the bronze medal match, Verstraeten faced another Polish competitor, Paulina Szlachta, ranked 147th by the International Judo Federation (IJF). Despite a valiant effort, Verstraeten was defeated by waza-ari, finishing just off the podium.
Other Belgian judoka also competed in Warsaw, with varying degrees of success. Eveline Delbaen (IJF 138) was eliminated in the first round of the -57 kg category by Germany’s Pauline Starke (IJF 45) via ippon. Similarly, selina Delen (IJF 122) faced an early exit in the -63 kg category, losing by ippon to Italy’s Carola Paissoni.
On the men’s side, Dries Ponnet (unclassified) made a strong showing in the -73 kg category. he secured two consecutive victories, defeating the Netherlands’ Koen Heg (IJF 157) by waza-ari and Kazakhstan’s Darkhan Koibagar (unclassified) by ippon. His run ended in the next round against Georgia’s Giorgi Terashvili (IJF 117),who triumphed by waza-ari.
Belgian Judo: A Weekend of Near Misses and Valuable Experience – An Interview with Former Olympic Champion, Anne-Sophie Mondière
Welcome back, judo fans! We’ve gathered some fascinating insights from Anne-Sophie Mondière, France’s 2012 Olympic champion in the women’s -63kg category, on the recent performance of the Belgian National judo Team at the Warsaw European Open.
Anne-sophie, Jente Verstraeten came very close to a bronze medal. What are your thoughts on her performance?
Anne-Sophie Mondière: jente showed great promise. Reaching the semi-finals against a world-class competitor like Hikari Yoshioka is no easy feat! It’s clear she has the talent and determination to compete at the highest level. Losing the bronze medal match by waza-ari is always tough, but these are crucial learning experiences.
I agree that facing athletes like Paulina Szlachta, even though ranked lower, can be incredibly challenging. Do you think rankings always accurately reflect the capabilities of judoka?
Anne-Sophie Mondière: Rankings are a useful tool to gauge a judoka’s overall progress and performance history. However, they don’t always tell the whole story. There are always fluctuations in form, tactical adjustments, and unexpected upsets within a competition. Any given day, a lower-ranked judoka can outperform a higher-ranked one. Jente’s performance highlights this perfectly – she beat a higher-ranked competitor,Ebru Sahin,convincingly.
On the men’s side, Dries Ponnet impressed with two consecutive wins. What are some of the qualities you admire in a rising judoka?
Anne-Sophie Mondière: Dries’s tenacity and intelligent use of techniques are readily visible. His victories demonstrate a strong understanding of judo principles and the ability to execute them under pressure. Being unclassified right now shouldn’t discourage him; it signifies an prospect for growth and movement up the rankings. Every competition is a chance to learn, adapt, and climb the ladder.
Switching gears, how do you think the selection process for the belgian National Judo Team should adapt in light of these results?
Anne-Sophie mondière: It’s essential to balance experience with fresh talent. While established athletes bring valuable experience, promising newcomers like Jente and Dries should be given opportunities to showcase their skills on the international stage. continuous evaluation and a fair selection process are crucial for the team’s success.
Anne-Sophie, thank you for sharing your insights with us.
Before we wrap up, what message would you give to aspiring Belgian judoka inspired by the team’s performance in Warsaw?
Anne-Sophie Mondière: Never stop believing in your potential.Embrace the challenges, learn from both victories and defeats, and dedicate yourselves to continuous advancement. The journey is just as critically important as the destination. Belgium has a rich judo history, and with dedicated individuals, the future is bright.
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What are your thoughts on the Belgian Judo Team’s performance? Are you confident they can build upon these results and secure podium finishes in upcoming competitions? Join the discussion in the comments below!
