During the month of February, athletes from the Judo Federation of the Valencian Community have participated in the Tel Aviv Grand Slamtest of the international circuit scoring for the world ranking and the European Cup Cadete from Fuengirola. Two events of different age levels that ensure both the present and the future of Valencian judo, since a total of four medals were obtained.
The first to open the medal table was Julia Figueroa at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam in the -48kg category. The woman from Cordoba, who has lived in Valenca for many years, in her first appearance on the international tatami after the Tokyo Olympics, played an almost perfect competition both technically and tactically. Figueroa beat Natalie Kolein (GER), Andrea Stojadinov (SRB)), lost in semi-finals Milica Nikolic (SRB) and won the bronze against the local judoka Shira Rishony (ISR), who was the judoka who got her out of her fight for the Olympic medal in Tokyo. “My feelings on a day-to-day basis are very good since I returned to the tatami. I knew that I could perform at this level and that I could get on the podium in Tel Aviv. By the way, in my first tournament after the Rio Games, I finished fifth in the Grand Slam of Abu Dhabi. That is to say, we are already ahead with respect to the previous cycle…”, highlighted Julia Figueroa in statements collected on the page of the FER Project, in which the athlete is integrated.
Fuengirola Cadet European Cup
At the European Cup in Fuengirola, Aitana Diaz, Davit Kevlishvili and Aitana Sala obtained two gold and one silverrespectively.
In the female category, the current Champion of Spain Cadet, and Absolute bronze in -48kg, Aitana DíazHe played four fights against Celia Maillard (FROM), Leyla Damirova (AZE), Tara Babulfath (SWE) y Alessandra Rocco (ITA) proclaiming herself champion of the European Cup in her weight category.
On the other hand, Aitana Hallas well current champion of Spain Cadet in the +70kg categoryalso played four games, winning three against Laura Gonzalez (ESP), Anya Hassan | (GBR) and June Moreno (ESP), losing only to French champion Grace-Esther Mienandi.
Davit Kevlisvili, chasing a dream
In the male category, he also current champion of Spain Cadet, in the +90kg category, the judoka of Georgian origin Davit Kevlishvili was proclaimed champion of the European Cup of Fuengirola beating three opponents: Daniel Ede (GBR), Zaur Sarioghlu (AZE) y Ramazan Ahmadov (AZE). It is the first international medal he has achieved. Kevlishvili representing Spain. Thanks to this medal, Davit has been selected for the following competition, the European Summit of Coimbra, where he will once again represent Spain and the Valencian Judo Federation. This gold achieved in Fuengirola is a big step towards obtaining nationality for this 15-year-old of Georgian origin, who has been in Spain since he was 10 years old and who aspires to be part of the Spanish team permanently. Until he turns 18, the athlete can represent Spain in international competitions, then he must obtain nationality in order to continue being part of the Spanish teams.
Warsaw European Open Senior
Finally, this weekend will take place the Warsaw European Open Senior where one of the teams of the Judo Federation of the Valencian Community made up of Maria Ruiz, Vlada Kopnyayeva, Gaizka Porras, Gorka Sánchez, Jaume Bernabéu, Daniel Pérez, Aitor Goikoetxea, Alberto Varela, Alfonso Urquiza and Irinel Chelaru.
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