The German judoka narrowly missed the podium twice on the first day of the European Championships in Sofia.
The German judoka missed the podium twice on the first day of the European Championships in Sofia. Pauline Starke and Mascha Ballhaus both lost bronze medals in their weight classes.
Starke had to admit defeat to Mina Libeer from Belgium in the decisive duel in the 57 kg category. Before that, the 24-year-old had surprisingly made it to the semi-finals, where she lost to the future European champion Timna Nelson-Levy from Israel.
Ballhaus also almost caused a big surprise in the 52 kg category. Like Starke, the 21-year-old sports soldier fought her way to the semi-finals, but then lost first to the later European champion Chelsie Giles from Great Britain and then to the reigning Olympic champion Distria Krasniqi from Kosovo in the bronze medal match.
Before that, Annika Würfel had already been eliminated in the second round in the 52 kg category. Lennart Slamberger (up to 66 kg), the only male competitor from Germany in the light weight categories, was eliminated in the third round.
In the women’s event, Luise Malzahn (up to 78 kg), who is aiming for her first title at her tenth participation in the European Championships, is the main medallist. Igor Wandtke (up to 73 kg) as well as the brothers Karl-Richard (up to 100 kg) and Johannes Frey (over 100 kg) have podium chances. The DJB will be represented by a total of 15 fighters in the Bulgarian capital from Friday to Sunday.
