Giles marks return with silver whilst Platten claims European U23 bronze

Chelsie Giles marked her return to competition following the Tokyo Olympic Games, winning silver at the Baku Grand Slam, whilst Amy Platten continued her impressive 2021 season by taking bronze at the European U23 Championships.

Following an opening round bye, Olympic bronze medallist Giles faced current European Junior Champion Liliia Nugaeva (RUS). A right vs left contest resulted in both fighters cancelling each other out before the contest entered Golden Score. A change of direction for a waza-ari score enough to see Giles progress to the semi-finals to face Anastasia Polikarpova (RUS).

It looked as though the semi-final contest was destined for Golden Score until in the final 10-seconds when Giles scored a waza-ari and followed it up with a 10 second hold down for ippon score to progress to the final to face Reka Pupp (HUN).

Pupp, who missed out on a medal in Tokyo, finishing 5^th, was able to capitalise on a mistake by Giles as the contest entered Golden Score to record her first Grand Slam victory, meaning Giles had to settle for silver.

Speaking after the event Giles said: “I felt a little rusty today but I am so glad to be back competing again. I would like to thank my support team getting me ready for the competition and the National Lottery for their continued support of me and my team mates. I now look forward to supporting the rest of the GB Judo team fighting over the next few days.”

Former European Youth Olympic Festival Champion, Platten booked her place in the semi-finals of the European U23 Championships following victories against Anais Perrot (FRA) and Alina Sergeeva (RUS); in both contests Platten’s opponents picked up three penalty shidos.

Platten faced European Championship silver medallist Andrea Stojadinov (SRB) in the semi-finals.

Some great groundwork by Stojadinov saw her through to the final whilst Platten faced Sarah Ischt (GER) in the bronze medal contest.

As the contest entered the final 60-seconds there was nothing between the pair, until a great show of strength from Platten to throw her opponent for ippon and claim the bronze medal.

Yasmin Javadian and Michael Fryer both overcame their opponents in the opening round, before defeats in the second round.

2019 European U23 Championship bronze medallist Javadian defeated current World and European Junior Championship bronze medallist Erza Muminoviq (KOS) in the opening round by a waza-ari score. In Round 2 she faced Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Mascha Ballhaus (GER). Ballhaus registering an ippon score by an osaekomi with 1-minute of the contest remaining.

Fryer defeated Ion Tonofrei (MDA) during Golden Score in his opening round contest but was unable to make it through his second-round contest against Amit Bobovich (ISR).

Elsewhere it was tough opening day for Dylan Munro , Joshua Giles and Charlie Young as they were all defeated in their opening contests.

Munro was defeated in the second-round, following an opening round bye. Munro scored a waza-ari in the closing 10-seconds of the contest to take the fight to Golden Score but a second waza-ari by Yehonatan Veksler (ISR) was enough to see Munro exit the competition.

Giles, also competing in the -60kg category was defeated by B.Tralhao Fernandes (POR), whilst Young lost out to Stanislav Semkov (UKR) after picking up three penalty shidos.