Compete with the best young athletes from all over Europe? For Ronja Buddenkotte from Schermbeck, this became reality at the European Youth Olympic Festival.
At the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Ronja Buddenkotte from Schermbeck was not able to win a medal. Nevertheless, the competitions with participants from 48 nations were an unforgettable experience for the young judoka.
Even the opening ceremony was something very special for Ronja Buddenkotte, because as the flag-bearer she led the 125-strong German delegation last Tuesday.
Sporty things continued for her on Thursday. In the -70 kg weight class, after a bye in round one, she prevailed in her first fight against Adelina Tugutschii from Moldova. The quarter-final against Nika Koren from Slovenia was balanced. Ronja Buddenkotte controlled the fight after her opponent made a strong start. But in the extension of the fight without points until then, the woman from Schermbeck fell after 2:36 minutes and had to go to the consolation round.
There Buddenkotte would have needed three victories to achieve the bronze medal. Her first opponent was actually the hardest on this path. Because the woman from Schermbecker had already met Alisa Vidneieva from the Ukraine in the semi-finals of the European Championship. In this fight, too, the fighter from JC 66 Bottrop had to go into overtime – this time, however, with a positive ending, because a hold brought Budden-kotte the win.
Passive Romanian became a stumbling block for Buddenkotte
Hanna Balogh from Romania was to be her last opponent after that. The young German dominated the entire fight, the Romanian athlete has already received two punishments because of passivity, a third warning would have meant defeat. Nevertheless, Ronja Buddenkotte could not win the fight. Tired and scarred from the fighting, she was distracted for a brief moment and fell.
In the end, seventh place among 21 athletes remained. Overall at the level and due to the injury-related break in competition a good result. However, the woman from Schermbeck and her team were annoyed because a medal had been possible.
But Ronja Buddenkotte doesn’t have much time to get angry. After a short break, the next important tasks are the Bundesliga final and the U21 championship.
