Mihail Latyshev performed most successfully among Moldovan judokas // Photo: ijf.org.
Latyshev won the gold medal in the weight class, Izvoreanu and Mitru won silver, and Croitoru won bronze.
He defeated the American in the final
Mikhail Latyshev triumphed in the 90 kg category. He defeated Taius Babaichenko (Lithuania), Danilo Articolo (Italy) and Dominik Druseta (Croatia).
In the decisive bout, the 22-year-old Moldovan judoka defeated John Jane from the USA, thus winning the seventh gold medal in his career. The bronze medalists were Druseta and Nikoloz Davladze (Georgia).
Silver medalists were
Radu Izvoreanu took the second place in the category up to 66 kg. After victories over Adam Hryszczyna (Poland), Mathieu Vankerkem (Belgium) and Gustav Borvold (Norway), the 23-year-old judoka lost the gold medal to German Florian Boekker. The bronze medalists were Martin Setz of Germany and Dani Klakar of Croatia.
Vlad Mitru distinguished himself in the 73 kg category. On his way to the final he defeated Mateas Trilljarv (Estonia) and two representatives of Great Britain – Finley Ellan and Thomas Jackson. In the final bout, the 21-year-old lost to Narek Vardanyan, representing Sweden.
Another representative of Moldova – Renat Croitoru – was also represented in the same category. During the tournament, the 19-year-old judoka passed David Bergfeld (Netherlands), Nazar Kuleshov (Ukraine) and Vincent Wieneke (Germany). He lost in the 1/2 final to future champion Vardanyan. Croitoru made it to the small final, where he defeated Italian Federico Bosis and won the bronze medal. The second bronze medalist was Briton Jackson.
Fifth at the Cup
The Moldovan judo team with four medals (one of which is gold) took the fifth place in the final medal standings. The first place was taken by Germany (three gold, four silver medals), the second by Ukraine (two golds, three silvers and a bronze each), the third by Sweden (two golds, one silver and one bronze) and the fourth by Italy (one gold, two silvers and two bronzes).
More than 240 athletes from 27 countries took part in the European Cup. Unlike the Championship, athletes from other continents can take part in the Cup. Judokas from Europe, Africa, North and South America were represented in Riga.
