Top judo talent Elena Dengg celebrated a special home win in Styria on Saturday.
“It was a perfect day, I’m really happy. It just filled me up: warming up with brother Jakob, fighting in front of great-aunt Ida (from Graz) and Mama Christina. I was actually never in danger today,” beamed Elena Dengg (-70 kg/ESV Sanjindo Bischofshofen) after her home win at the Junior European Cup in the Raiffeisen Sports Park in Graz. The 18-year-old from Lungau prevailed in the final against the favored under-23 European champion and world number one Samira Bock (GER, 20).
For Elena it was the second Junior European Cup victory after the success in Birmingham three weeks ago. After a short training camp in Graz, the reward is a (family) vacation in Portugal.
In Graz, Austria was also able to look forward to a surprise silver from Laura Summer (-78/Judozentrum Krems/Lower Austria) and bronze from Lisa Tretnjak (-63/SU Noricum Leibnitz/ST). After the first day, Austria takes third place in the medal table among 28 nations with one gold, one silver and one bronze medal behind Germany and Brazil.
Local hero and tournament favorite Marcus Auer (-60/Creativ Graz/ST/1) struggled with circulatory problems and had to give up the bronze medal without a fight or settle for 5th place. The red-white-red successes were rounded off by Emily Starzer (-63/Askö Reichraming/OÖ) taking 7th place.
On Sunday, other Salzburg judoka will be in action in Graz with Leonie Wagenbichler (PSV Salzburg Judo), Anna Padinger (Judounion Flachgau), Larissa Sickinger (Judogym), Tim Schwarzl (PSV Salzburg-Judo) and Hubert Illmer (ESV Sanjindo Bischofshofen).
2023-07-15 17:19:29
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