Men Shine Bronze in Sarajevo

At the Sarajevo European Cup this weekend, GB Judo picked up three bronze medals as Josh Giles and Charlie Young both secured their first podium places of the season on the opening day. On day 2, Wesley Greenidge picked up his first international medal since 2018, and first senior medal, taking bronze.

Meanwhile at the Nanterre Junior European Cup, Tatum Keen continued her impressive recent form to take bronze; her third medal of 2022.

Following an opening round bye, Giles (-60kg) defeated Osher Soyonov (ISR) and Pawel Tylek (POL) to win his Pool and book his place in the Semi-Finals.

Defeat to top seed and eventual gold medallist Youssry Samy (EGY) progressed Giles to the bronze medal contest where he defeated Roie Rosen (ISR) to win his first senior international medal and first international medal since the Paks Junior European Cup in 2019.

In the -66kg category, Young overcame Artyom Ghalachyan (ARM), Yair Elkind (ISR) and Daniel Kapelushnik (ISR) to win his Pool, with all victories coming by way of ippon score.

Defeat to eventual gold medallist and 4x African Champion Mohamed Abdelmawgoud (EGY) in the Semi-Finals progressed Young to the bronze medal contest where he defeated Tobias Fust-Crtanec (SLO) to win his first international medal.

Greenidge (featured image) secured GB Judo’s final medal of the competition on the final day in the +100kg competition. An opening round victory against Gabor Karpati (HUN) was followed with a Quarter-Final win against Igor Vracar (SRB); both victories coming by way of ippon score.

A narrow defeat to eventual gold medallist Hamza Ouchani (FRA) in the Semi-Final saw Greenidge fight for bronze against Donat Varga (HUN). Another victory, by way of ippon score, secured Greenidge’s place on the podium, where he received his first senior international medal.

At the Nanterre Junior European Cup Keen continued her impressive recent form to win bronze. Seeded 4^th, Keen defeated Meimouna Sissoko (FRA), following an opening round bye, before defeating Laura Gomez-Antona (ESP) to win her Pool and progress to the Semi-Finals.

Defeat to junior world number one, Chloe Devictor (FRA) progressed Keen to the bronze medal contest where she defeated Marina Castello-Diez (ESP) to add bronze to her Athens Junior European Cup silver and Coimbra Junior European Cup bronze.

Elsewhere, in Sarajevo there was a 7^th place finish for Andrew McWatt in the +100kg category. Whilst there were also two 7^th place finishes in Nanterre for Katie Mills (-63kg) and Chloe Baker (+78kg).

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