Two gold medals for BiH at the opening of the European Veterans Judo Championship, new great fights await us today!

The Judo Championship for veterans has been opened at the Hills Hotel Arena in Sarajevo, organized technically by the Judo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This competition is marked in the calendar of the European Judo Union (EJU) as one of the most important events in this Olympic year of 2024.

Veterans from 36 countries across Europe are participating in the European Championship, with over 800 competitors arriving at the Hills Hotel Arena, of which 31 represent Bosnia and Herzegovina. All judokas over 30 years old have the right to compete in the European Veterans Championship, provided that at least one year has passed since their last senior competition.

The best results for competitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina were achieved by the Vice-President of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prof. Dr. Milanko Mučibabić, and Dragan Božović, both of whom won gold medals. Prof. Dr. Mučibabić claimed the gold medal in the 100 kg category by defeating Polish competitor Edward Spraski, while Božović also won gold in the same category by defeating Croatian athlete Rade Krnjeta.

As for other BH competitors, Elvir Salihagić and Mile Matijević were just one step away from winning bronze medals, but unfortunately, they were unable to secure their place on the podium.

Other representatives from BH included Enver Kemez (up to 90 kg), Radenko Marinović (up to 100 kg), Benamin Maglić (up to 81 kg), Mustafa Memagić (over 100 kg), Nikola Kljajić (up to 81 kg), Zikret Hasanica (up to 73 kg), Asif Libić (up to 90 kg), and Efraim Pinjo (up to 100 kg).

On the first day of competition, the most successful were the representatives of France, who dominated the event by winning a total of 21 medals (seven gold, five silver, and nine bronze). Competitors from Germany also achieved notable results, securing five gold, two silver, and seven bronze medals.

This event was further enhanced by the presence of celebrated BH judoka and Olympian Larisa Cerić, who observed the exciting matches on four tatamis.

All results from yesterday's program can be viewed at www.eju.net/event/european-judo-championships-veterans-2024/282011/.

The best veterans in Europe will compete at the Hills Hotel Arena until Sunday, and today we can expect new and certainly exciting matches in the -66, -81, -100, and +100 kg categories for men in M1, M2, and M3, as well as -52, -63, -78, and +78 kg for women in F1, F2, and F3 categories.

After the fights conclude, a Kodokan kata seminar will be held at the Hills Hotel Arena from June 12 to June 14.

Photo source: Dino Šečić/EJU