Yang Doubles Up On Gold, Jaspe Wins Silver in Paks

(Colorado Springs, CO) – Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team / New York Athletic Club) became the first American junior to win back-to-back Junior European gold medals, winning the 60 kg division at the Paks Junior Cup in Hungary on July 11, seven days after capturing gold at the Prague Junior European Cup in Czechia. A total of 387 athletes from 35 countries participated in the Paks tournament.

The world No. 1 at 60 kg, Yang went 5-0 on the path to the gold medal. He scored wins by waza-ari over Titouan Lucas (FRA) in the round of 32 and Levente Kis (HUN) in the round of 16, then defeated Askhab Isayev (BEL) in the quarterfinals with two yukos.

Yang's semifinal match against Bence Galo (HUN) went over three minutes into Golden Score (sudden-death overtime) before Galo picked up his third and disqualifying penalty. Facing Amza Chatti (FRA) in the final, Yang took the Frenchman to the ground in the third minutes and secured the pin to capture the gold medal.

Joining Yang on the podium was Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), who won the silver medal in the women's 63 kg competition. It was the 20-year-old's 14th Continental Cup medal of her career. Jaspe cruised into the final with four straight victories by ippon (instant win) over Leah Offenberg (NED) in the round of 32, Tatiana Dutca (MDA) in the round of 16, Aleksandra Shestopalova (RUS) in the quarterfinals and Celine Kleijmeer (NED) in the semifinals. She then lost by ippon to Aishat Alieva (RUS) in the final.

Top-seven finishes were turned in by Caedmon Haddad (Evergreen, Colo. / USA Judo National Resident Team) in the men's 100 kg division, and Mackenzie McPherson (Miramar, Fla. / Budokan Judo School) in the women's 52 kg division.

Top seven and U.S. results at the Paks Junior European Cup are as follows:

Men’s 60 kg
1. Jonathan Yang (Los Angeles, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team / NYAC)
2. Amza Chatti (FRA)
3. Magomed Abdulaev (RUS)
3. Ivan Iurtaev (RUS)
5. Lucien Tixier (FRA)
5. Bence Galo (HUN)
7. Askhab Isayev (BEL)
7. Andreas Declercq (BEL)

Men’s 66 kg
1. Islam Sultygov (RUS)
2. Sebestyen Kollar (HUN)
3. Marko Jorgic (SRB)
3. Veljko Simic (SRB)
5. Roman Kuznetsov (BLR)
5. Tyn Zwiers (NED)
7. Antonio Nitu (ROU)
7. Manuel Figueiredo (POR)
Also Competed: Omar Echavarria (Miami, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 0-1; Theodore Lehmen (Jefferson City, Mo. / Jefferson City Judo Club), 0-1; Adrian Cohen (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Cohen Brothers Judo Club), 0-1.

Men’s 73 kg
1. Pavel Koloverdov (RUS)
2. Atmir Soblirov (RUS)
3. Abdurakhman Bekeev (RUS)
3. Narek Vardanian (SWE)
5. Adam Ozov (RUS)
5. Adam Feke (HUN)
7. Barnabas Raffay (HUN)
7. Ismayyl Nyyazlyyev (TKM)
Also Competed: Domenico Ternullo (Lynn, Mass. / Pedro's Judo Center), 1-2; Ivan Baranau (Levittown, Pa. / Yawara Force), 0-1; Yoav Kogan (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Resident Team), 0-1.

Men’s 81 kg
1. Akhmed Turluev (RUS)
2. Iraroslav Bunakov (RUS)
3. Szymon Szulik (POL)
3. Dusan Grahovac (SRB)
5. Aleksandrs Avdejevs (LAT)
5. Artem Neyolov (CAN)
7. Ilia Simonov (RUS)
7. Lucio Brard (FRA)
Also Competed: Daniel Shulgin (Philadelphia, Pa. / Yawara Force), 0-1; Octavio DeOliveira (Lynnfield, Mass. / Pedro's Judo Center), 0-1; Evan Miller (Marion, Ind. / Pedro's Judo Center), 0-1; Shota Kundukhashvili (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Caucasus Judo), 0-1.

Men’s 90 kg
1. Abdula Suleimanov (RUS)
2. Thijs Altena (NED)
3. Ademirkan Tambiev (RUS)
3. Alex Marousek (CZE)
5. Bulcsu Pinter (HUN)
5. Omuruzak Halmuminov (TKM)
7. David Gliga (ROU)
7. Imran Gusic (BIH)
Also Competed: Nicholas Zadvinskiy (Staten Island, N.Y. / Cranford JKC), 0-1.

Men’s 100 kg
1. Vladimir Dosiak (RUS)
2. Leonhard Fransens (NED)
3. Gaya Sonntag (FRA)
3. Timotej Kos (SLO)
5. Ivan Milicevic (CRO)
5. Nemanja Simic (SRB)
7. Caedmon Haddad (Evergreen, Colo. / USA Judo National Resident Team)
7. Miron Toth (HUN)

Men’s +100 kg
1. Karim Iagafarov (RUS)
2. Steyn Oldenhof (NED)
3. Martinus Ballering (NED)
3. Kevin Nzuzi Diasivi (FRA)
5. Mateja Borojevic (SRB0
5. Bogdan Gavrilov (RUS)
7. Artem Fotuima (RUS)
7. Petar Novakovic (SRB)

Women’s 48 kg
1. Sofia Zakharova (RUS)
2. Natalija Prolic (SRB)
3. Anastasiia Barabash (RUS)
3. Lena Antoine (BEL)
5. Kristina Lili Krizova (SVK)
5. Ejegyz Geldiyeva (TKM)
7. Anastasiia Petrova (RUS)
7. Denisa Serban (ROU)
Also Competed: Alexandra Erb (Adams, Tenn. / Tri-Star Judo Team), 0-1.

Women’s 52 kg
1. Mina Gacic (SRB)
2. Rima Bourihane (CAN)
3. Valeriia Kozlova (RUS)
3. Laurine Gashi (KOS)
5. Janka Juttner (HUN)
5. Sofia Cordova (SWE)
7. Shanice Luis (NED)
7. Mackenzie McPherson (Miramar, Fla. / Budokan Judo School)
Also Competed: Malia Manibog (San Gabriel, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo Dojo), 0-1.

Women’s 57 kg
1. Vanessa Tolea (ROU)
2. Daria Kuptsova (RUS)
3. Medine Oraznyyazova (TKM)
3. Melody Grenier (CAN)
5. Laurence Gagnon (CAN)
5. Tatiana Tsvetova (RUS)
7. Luca Veg (HUN)
7. Nicole Daria Manaila (CAN)
Also Competed: Harlee Hiller (Evanston, Ill. / Cohen Brothers Judo Club), 1-1.

Women’s 63 kg
1. Aishat Alieva (RUS)
2. Emily Jaspe (Hialeah, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
3. Maria Silveira (POR)
3. Carla Van Zyl (CAN)
5. Aleksandra Shestoplaova (RUS)
5. Celine Kleijmeer (NED)
7. Bianca Tandean (AUS)
7. Lada Vondrakova (CZE)
Also Competed: Ellianna Abbott (Rayne, La. / Colton Brown Training Center), 0-1; Evangeline Abbott (Rayne, La. / Louisiana Judo), 0-1.

Women’s 70 kg
1. Anna Gadomskaia (RUS)
2. Karina Islamova (RUS)
3. Eva Ognivova (RUS)
3. Missy Jen Dorval Mbele (CAN)
5. Marielle Bouvier (BEL)
5. Barbora Nemcova (CZE)
7. Fanni Kohegyi (HUN)
7. Danielle Van Den Hil (NED)

Women’s 78 kg
1. Xanne Van Lijf (NED)
2. Kristina Konovalova (RUS)
3. Zlata Suprunenko (RUS)
3. Anastasia Antonova (RUS)
5. Saule Eininge (LTU)
5. Ana Besker (CRO)
7. Ioana Cociorba (ROU)
7. Astrid Oosterhuis (BEL)

Women’s +78 kg
1. Kira Safonova (RUS)
2. Kseniia Zanozina (RUS)
3. Roxana Visa (ROU)
3. Regina Huszar (HUN)
5. Daria Tudorache (ROU)
5. Frederique Lavigne (CAN)