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Northampton’s Freya Dechastelain
saw off the continent’s finest young players to win Britain’s
first ever gold medal at the Polish Cadet European Cup event in
Sczcyrk on Saturday 22nd May.
The 16-year-old, a standout
talent from Wolverhampton Judo Club, claimed the top prize in
the talent-laden under 48kg weight category. The Polish competition
served as Britain’s final competitive event before taking the
same team to the European Cadet Championships in the Czech Republic
on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June.
The 2009 British Cadet
Champion received a bye in the first round, opening her account
with a comprehensive victory over Poland’s Martyna Dobrowolska.
Freya registered an ippon against the hometown fighter to comfortably
advance to the third round where she was matched up against German
Selina Dietzer.
International acquaintances
were renewed and sporting folklore maintained as England and Germany’s
finest couldn’t be separated in regular time. Freya rallied in
golden score to edge her game opponent and progress to the semi-final.
An epic battle against
Turkey’s Dilara Lokman Hekim saw both fighters work tirelessly
to try and advance to the final but their efforts cancelled each
other out and the pair couldn’t be separated after golden score.
The referees awarded the contest to Freya, who they decided was
the more dominant judoka.
The in-form Brit, riding
a three-fight winning-streak, captured the gold medal with a polished
performance against Romanian Alexandra Pop.
England Squad Coordinator
Trevor Sitlinton said: “Freya is a very, very talented girl. This
was a great win for her, she done everything right and we’re delighted
for her.”
Sitlinton, who oversees
the development of Britain’s brightest prospects, believes the
young fighter is very similar to her club colleague Gemma Howell,
the 19-year-old standout who won gold at the 2010 London British
Open on Saturday 15th May.
“She reminds me of Gemma
Howell, she has a lot of natural talent and she’s very advanced
for her age,” he said.
Freya’s British teammates
also competed well in Poland with Jemima Duxberry of Devizes taking
bronze while Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown from Tonbridge Judo Club
and Polkyth’s Declan Byrne both claimed a credible fifth spot.
Karen Roberts, Performance
Operations Manager, said: “This has been an extremely encouraging
event, not based on the results but the performances of every
individual.
“The England staff has
implemented the technical direction of Patrick Roux within the
England Development programme, and along with it over the last
eight months created a culture for hard work and belief in their
ability.”
Freya will undertake her
final European preparations for Europe’s premier junior event
at a three-day training camp at Kendal Judo Club from Friday 11
th to Sunday June 13th.
Wolverhampton Judo Club
train at Wednesfield Park Compound, WV11 1TH. Training is held
on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 18:30 – 21:30.
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