Bischofshofner judoka make up two-thirds of the national team at Mixed European Championships.
Austria’s judoka will fight at the European Mixed Team Championships in Mulhouse, France, on Saturday. The ESV Sanjindo Bischofshofen is particularly well represented. Because in addition to the Lower Austrian Lisa Grabner and the Upper Austrian veteran Daniel Allerstorfer, the national team with Elena Dengg (-70 kg), Maria Höllwart (+70 kg), Herbert Wicker (-73 kg) and Thomas Scharfetter (-90 kg) includes a Pongauer Quartet.
“Four Bischofshofners in the general class of a European Championship is a premiere,” says Marianne Niederdorfer. The sporting director of the Pongauer sees the nomination of her talents as an award for the good youth work of her club. “We do it extremely well and our athletes are strong. They knock at the top of the national team.”
The mixed team competition, in which men and women take turns and four duels have to be won in order to secure victory, is also held at the Olympics. At this European Championship, many of the 14 nations represented are counting on their hopes for the future – including Austria. Dengg, Wicker and Scharfetter celebrate the EM premiere at elite level. The goal was to get into the quarterfinals.
In the opening round, the Austrian team meets Italy. “It could have been worse,” said ÖJV sports director Markus Moser after the draw on Friday. If Höllwart and Co. take this first hurdle, the winner of the duel between Bulgaria and Turkey awaits in the quarter-finals.
