Judo Bond Netherlands – European Championship -18: Dutch mix team is just short
On the last day of the European Championship -18 in Porec, the mix teams match was on the program. The Dutch team was there, but in the end two sour, narrow defeats were also swallowed up.
In the opening round, Georgia was the top. After all six games, the score was tied at 3-3, and so the draw was made for the deciding game. For the Netherlands, Pepijn Kraak was allowed to go on the mat one more time, against Zaalishvili. Unfortunately, the Georgian turned out to be slightly stronger and the Netherlands became the second chance.
Also played matches in Poland, and have played to score a 3-3 tie. This time it was Joni Geilen who was allowed to perform the tatami an extra time, and she also had to recognize a long Golden Score in her Polish opponent Starczynska.
Two sour defeats for the Dutch team, which will have had the feeling throughout the tournament that there might have been even more medals. In the end, the team returns home with a beautiful gold medal from Vera Wandel and three fifth places (Johua de Lange, Emma van Leeuwen and Joni Geilen).