Belgian Judo Team Faces Mixed Results at Warsaw European Open
The Belgian judo team experienced a rollercoaster of emotions at the European Judo open in Warsaw, with both triumphs and setbacks marking thier performance.
Jente Verstraeten, ranked 124th globally, showcased her prowess in the under 48 kg category. After receiving a bye in the first round, she secured victories against poland’s Oliwia Onysk and Turkey’s Ebru Sahin, demonstrating her technical skill with a waza-ari and an ippon respectively. However, her journey towards bronze was halted by Japan’s Hikari Yoshioka, the eventual tournament champion, who defeated Verstraeten with an ippon in the semi-finals.The young Belgian athlete’s bid for a podium finish was further thwarted by Poland’s Paulina Szlachta, who secured a waza-ari victory in the bronze medal match.
In the women’s division, Eveline Delbaen (ranked 138th) faced an early exit in the -57 kg category, falling to Germany’s Pauline Starke (ranked 45th) via ippon. Similarly, Selina Delen (ranked 122nd) was eliminated in the -63 kg category after an ippon loss to Italy’s Carola Paissoni.
On the men’s side, Dries Ponnet made a strong showing in the -73 kg category. he advanced through two rounds, defeating the Netherlands’ Koen Heg with a waza-ari and Kazakhstan’s Darkhan koibagar with an ippon.His remarkable run was ultimately cut short by Georgia’s Giorgi Terashvili (ranked 117th), who secured a waza-ari victory.The European Judo Open in Warsaw served as a valuable platform for the Belgian judo team to test their skills against international competition. While some athletes faced early exits,others demonstrated their potential and determination,leaving room for optimism as they prepare for future tournaments.
Belgian Judo’s Warsaw Open Debrief: An Exclusive Interview With Legend, Annick van den Herrewegen
Welcome back, judo enthusiasts! Today, we have a very special guest, Annick van den Herrewegen, former Belgian Judo Olympian and multiple-time Belgian Champion. Annick, thanks for joining us.
Annick: It’s a pleasure to be here. Always excited to talk judo!
our conversation today revolves around the recent European Judo open in Warsaw, where the Belgian team delivered some thrilling performances, but also encountered some tough losses.
Let’s start with Jente Verstraeten. Reaching the semi-finals in the -48kg category is no small feat. What were your impressions of her performance?
Annick: I was thrilled to see Jente’s progress! That win against Ebru Sahin of turkey was especially remarkable. You could see her technical skills truly shone through. It’s a shame about the semi-final loss, but Yoshioka is a world-class judoka. Reaching the bronze medal match against Szlachta demonstrated jente’s determination, and unluckily, it just wasn’t her day.
You mentioned Yoshioka being world-class. Do you think Jente has the potential to reach that level?
Annick: Absolutely. Jente has raw talent and a strong work ethic. She needs to refine her strategy against top-ranked opponents, but that comes with experience.
Let’s move on to the other categories. We saw some early exits for Eveline Delbaen and Selina Delen, both highly ranked athletes. Was this a surprise for you?
Annick: Judo is a complex sport. it’s not just about rankings. On any given day, anything can happen. While their losses were disappointing, it’s crucial to remember this was a high-stakes international tournament. Their opponents were also incredibly skilled. They’ll learn from this experience and come back stronger.
Annick, you know firsthand the pressure of competing at this level. What advice would you give these young athletes to bounce back from a setback like this?
Annick: honestly, the best thing they can do is focus on the process, not the result. Analyze their matches, identify areas for enhancement, and double down on training.
* Moving on to the men’s side, dries Ponnet had a commendable run in the -73kg category. his victories against Heg and koibagar were impressive displays of power and technique. What did you think of his performance?
Annick: Dries showed great heart and athleticism! Defeating Heg and koibagar showcased his ability to adapt his style and outmaneuver different opponents. Though he lost against Terashvili,reaching the quarter-finals is a significant accomplishment.
Dries’ loss against Terashvili was a close match. Do you think that with more experience, he could have taken the win?
Annick: Perhaps. Terashvili is experienced, but Dries has the potential to challenge him. It comes down to sharpening his strategy and honing those technical skills in crucial moments. And remember, judo is a sport of inches.
For our readers who may not be fully familiar with the intricacies of judo scoring, can you explain how waza-ari and ippon contribute to a judoka’s victory?
Annick: Absolutely. A waza-ari is a half-point,scored for a controlled throw or hold down. An ippon is a full point and signifies a decisive throw or a hold down for 20 seconds. Scoring an ippon automatically wins the match.
Thanks for clarifying that, Annick. Let’s open the floor to our audience. What are your thoughts on the Belgian team’s performance at the Warsaw Open? Share your comments and predictions for future tournaments!
Annick: I’m eager to hear what everyone thinks! This team has immense potential. There will be ups and downs, but the commitment and passion are evident. I’m excited to see what the future holds for Belgian judo.
