Ahead of all of Europe

Domestic judokas who performed brilliantly at the European Championships in Tbilisi managed to surprise their opponents, please themselves, their coaches, their fans and restore faith in the power of the Russian school. Eight medals, of which five are gold, one silver and two bronze, and the first team place - we did not have such an excellent result even in Soviet times. Arsen Galstyan (60 kg), Ivan Nifontov (81), Tagir Khaibulaev (100), Natalia Kuzyutina (52) and Elena Ivashchenko (+78) rose to the top of the podium. “Silver” went to Vera Koval (63), and “bronze” went to Alim Gadanov (66) and Alexander Mikhailin (+100).

Georgia, known in the Caucasus and beyond for its wines, cuisine, hospitality and judo (the country's athletes have been among the world's elite for many years), warmly welcomed teams from 38 European countries. The huge hall was filled with spectators all three days of the tournament, sensitively and correctly reacting to every action on the tatami. It’s nice that the local public also appreciated the effective attacks of the Russians.

For the first official post-Olympic start, most countries, including Russia, brought an updated lineup, in which young and promising athletes appeared alongside experienced and proven athletes. And in many categories, those who are called “young blood” took the first positions. The new Russian European champion in the 81 kg category, Ivan Nifontov, is 21, Arsen Galstyan is 20, the winner in the 52 kg weight category, Natalya Kuzyutina, is 19. And it’s all the more pleasant that our yesterday’s juniors confidently win on the international tatami against recognized authorities. For example, Galstyan from Maikop in Georgia left behind the European vice-champion, the Armenian Davtyan, and the world champion, medalist of Beijing 2008, the Dutchman Hoeks. Bryansk judoka Kuzyutina created a sensation this season, winning the most prestigious Grand Slam tournament in Paris for the first time in Russian history, and in Tbilisi she won Russia’s first European Gold in the 52 kg category in 34 years of championships. We haven't had a men's middleweight champion for almost 20 years. The representative of Ryazan and the Altai Territory, Ivan Nifontov, with a brilliant throw, earned victory in the final with the Italian Ciano, proving to everyone the advantage of the Russian character.

There were no equals in the 100 kg category to Tagir Khaibulaev from Samara, and to this day he had no major victories. In January 2009, Tagir unexpectedly won a representative tournament in Tbilisi. Now it has become clear that the “gold” of the World Cup in Georgia was not at all accidental. Three months later, Khaibulaev returned to the capital of the Caucasian republic for the second “gold” and took it. Siberian Elena Ivashchenko is the most experienced and titled of the Russian 2009 European champions. Absolute European champion, vice-champion of the “absolute” world, winner of the Kano Cup, World Cup in Sofia and bronze medalist of the Grand Slam tournament in Paris 2009, she continued her medal streak with “gold” in Tbilisi.

All Russian fans will now expect a successful continuation at the 2009 Summer World Championships in Holland from the team of Ezio Gamba and Anatoly Rakhlin. It is obvious that with such professional training, a focus on success and full support from the Russian Judo Federation and its general partner, the Coalco company, our team and the entire domestic judo have a bright future.

Marina MAYOROVA, Tbilisi-Moscow