Judo-Club Burg eV starts at the German Championships in the under 18s

The best young judoka in the weight class up to 55 kg from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia met in the Ostthüringenhalle in Schmölln. In Levan’s weight class, 9 judoka, each appointed by their state associations, “applied” for the 3 coveted places for the German Championships on February 25th, 2023 in Leipzig. Levan convinced with early victories until the final. Again and again he succeeded in using his outstanding techniques O-goshi and Seoi-nage, which he mastered with precision on the right and left. His opponent in the final, Sebastian Vogel from Lutherstadt Eisenach, proved to be an equal opponent. A holding technique ultimately decided this final fight in favor of the Thuringian judoka.

Luka Gognadze started the competition in the weight class up to 60 kg with the same ambitions as his brother Levan. Even if his weight class was even stronger with 13 judoka, there was a clearly formulated goal: qualification for the German Championships. A referee’s decision, at least very controversial, led to an absolutely avoidable defeat in the first fight. Unfortunately, the video assistant, which is also common in judo at this quality level, did not bring any decisive help. However, it remains to be said that the competition conditions of this MDEM were basically very fair and that factual decisions that are to be accepted are probably simply part of the life of an athlete. In the repechage round, Luka was able to impressively demonstrate his judo-sport qualities with an early victory against Ilja Buschnikow from Heiligenstadt.

The chance of third place and thus the qualification perspective for the German championships could be preserved. Unfortunately, the subsequent narrow defeat against Luca Feldbusch, also from Eisenach, meant the end of the Leipzig dreams and 7th place for Luka in the final calculation. The achievements of the two junior athletes of the Judo-Club Burg eV, which are well worth seeing, make their trainer Martin Lübke look to the future with great hope. First of all, however, it is up to the Levan to keep their fingers crossed for the German Championships taking place on February 25th, 2023.

In the now more than 60-year history of the Burger Judoverein, there have already been 3 medal wins in national title fights. Probably the greatest success came in 1967, when Edeltraut Schultze won the GDR championship title. At the IX.GDR-Spartakiade in Leipzig in 1983, Edward Meyer first came second in the judo event and then also won the bronze medal in his weight class.

It was reserved for Christian Supplie in the 90s, then already all of Germany, with 3rd place, to win the last podium placement for the Burger Judo Club at a national championship. February 2023 would therefore be a very good time to build on the successes of previous years.