On day one, leading the charge was Barbara Twarowska of Poland. Ranked No. 2 in the world and last year’s Cadet European silver medalist, Barbara wasn’t settling for second this time. In the -48kg final, she sealed her golden moment with a lightning-fast transition into juji-gatame, claiming the Cadet European Champion title.
“Now I am the champion, I have a gold medal! I am so happy because last year I won silver and lost in the final seconds when my opponent threw me. Now, I am first. It’s just so cute… I can’t even find the right words.”
Teammate Sandra Walendzik also stepped onto the podium in the -44kg category. With cool control and classic groundwork, she secured bronze via osaekomi, proving once again that Team Poland is a powerhouse on the rise.
On the men's side, Julius Kitagawa of Germany delivered an impressive performance on his way to the -50kg final, securing four strong victories. In the gold medal contest, he put up a tough fight but ultimately came away with a well-earned silver, falling only to Azerbaijan’s Anar Guliyev.
Day Two brought more success for Team Germany: 2024 Cadet European Champion Maya Toszegi added to the medal tally with a bronze in the -57kg category. She wasted no time in her bronze medal match, securing the win with a quick finish in the opening minute.
In the -66kg category, Estonia’s Georg Noges showed true grit. Despite being down by two shidos, he stayed composed and launched a stunning uchi-mata for ippon—securing a well-deserved bronze medal.
On Day Three of the competition, two of our incredible athletes in the -70kg category stood tall on the podium: Roksana Zys of Poland claimed a brilliant silver, and Ana Besker of Croatia secured a well-deserved bronze.
Congratulations to Team IPPONGEAR — the future looks bright and we are excited for our rising stars. This is only the beginning.
