7th for Powell on Final Day of European Championships

On the final day of the European Championships in Sofia, Natalie Powell finished in 7^th place.

Following an opening round bye, Powell defeated recent Tel Aviv Grand Slam champion Beata Pacut (POL) in Round 2. Powell registering a waza-ari score in the opening exchange as the contest entered Golden Score.

A Quarter-Final defeat to European U23 Champion Alina Boehm (GER), by a single waza-ari score, saw Powell progress to the Repechage to face Olympic silver medallist, Madeleine Malonga (FRA) for a place in the bronze medal contest.

There was nothing between the two fighters as they traded shidos. With the scorecard even at 2 shidos each, the contest entered the final 60-seconds where Powell registered a waza-ari score.

In the next exchange Powell was further penalised for stepping out the contest area and was awarded a third shido.

Defeat meant Powell finished in 7^th.

Speaking after the event Powell said: “I have been building my training since January and I came here, knowing it wasn’t the main goal for the year, but confident that I could challenge for a medal.”

Coming into Sofia Powell had only competed once since her bronze medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in November:“I did feel off the pace, I got a great result in the opening round, but I felt my rhythm wasn’t quite there.”

Powell started to look like the fighter of old as the day progressed: “Against Malonga I found my fight again and I was disappointed not to win.

“I was so invested in that fight that I thought I had won it with that score. I’m so embarrassed as I thought we were in Golden Score!

“The following exchange I just couldn’t quite get my hand on and that cost me a place in the bronze medal contest, but it has shown me that I still belong on this stage and I can’t wait to get back out there again.”

Rhys Thompson (-100kg) faced Bojan Dosen (SRB) in the opening round. Thompson registered a waza-ari as the clock passed 90-seconds. Thompson continued to dominate the contest; a score up, and with Dosen having two shidos to his name, Thompson registered a second waza-ari to safely progress to the second round.

In Round 2 Thompson conceded two shidos in the opening 30-seconds before his opponent, Simeon Catharina (NED) registered a waza-ari score. Thompson battled back to even the score but the experience of his opponent saw him progress. Nevertheless, Thompson gave a great account of himself on his European debut.

Following an opening round bye, Emma Reid was defeated by the current European U23 Champion Patricia Sampaio (POR) in Golden Score.

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