Piotr Kuczera claims second gold for Poland

At the second day of the European Open in Warsaw, Poland won another gold medal. In the category U100kg Piotr Kuczera was able to catch the gold, although he didn’t have to fight the final against Grigori Minaskin of Estonia due to an injury. It was the 30st gold medal for a man in the history of the Polish Open. On Saturday Wiktor Mrowczynski claimed the gold medal U73kg.

Germany was strong at the second day taking two titles. Anna-Monta Olek (19) was the youngest winner of the tournament in the youngest final against Yael van Heemst (19). Olek won the battle between two familiar athletes on penalties. Heavyweight Sven Heinle took the second gold medal for the Germans, in the final he defeated Georgia’s Irakli Demetrashvili.

American globetrotter John Jayne (24) finally won his first World Cup gold medal. Jayne who also represented Great Britain and Bulgaria in his early days, is a steady member of team USA for years now and although he took a bronze medal at the European Open in Luxembourg, he was finally able to win gold in Warsaw. In the final he overcame Omer Aydin of Turkey.

Spanish Alfonso Urquiza continued European success. In May last year he won gold at the European Open in Zagreb, in December he took the Spanish title and on Sunday he claimed the gold U81kg in Warsaw. Urquiza defeated Etienne Briand of Canada in the final.

Japanese Junior Champion Moka Kuwagata won the title in Warsaw U70kg. In the past many Japanese traditionally went to Poland for events combined with training camps, especially the junior generation. Kuwagata was able to resist Silja Kok of the Netherlands in the final. The Dutch took a second medal in this category by means of Jorien Visser.

Croatian heavyweight Tina Radic won the gold medal +78kg against Stessie Bastareaud of France. In 2017 Radic won gold in Sarajevo, so a gap of almost five years was closed.

Japan won the medal table with three titles, same amount as Germany but with a silver medal more. There were no Russian nor Ukraine athletes in the field. Azerbaijan and Poland finished third and fourth in the medal standings.