Twelve young competitors from the Red Judo Dragons of TC Hameln secured twelve podium finishes at the Tierisches Anfängerturnier in Elze.
For nearly all of the children, the competition marked their first opportunity to experience real tournament conditions.
The team claimed three gold medals, two silver medals, and seven bronze medals over the weekend. The results surpassed all expectations for the touring group.
The coaching staff praised the mental strength and technical courage of their young students. “Im Vordergrund stand für uns heute, dass die Kinder Erfahrung sammeln und Spaß haben,” the trainers stated. “Dass am Ende ausnahmslos jeder Kämpfer mit einer Medaille nach Hause geht, ist ein absoluter Traum und eine riesige Belohnung für die gesamte Trainingsgruppe.”
Parents and relatives traveled to support the competitors from the mat side. One mother thanked the volunteer trainers for their sensitive guidance, telling them: “Ich möchte mich einmal ausdrücklich für die fantastische Begleitung der Trainer bedanken! Sie haben unterstützt, ohne unter Druck zu setzen, haben den Kindern Halt gegeben und Mut zugesprochen, sodass sie über sich hinauswachsen konnten.”
Another parent highlighted the strong sense of community within the group, describing the team as a small judo family where children feel safe and well cared for.
The Red Judo Dragons will host a training session for the state squad of judoka with intellectual disabilities from Lower Saxony on Saturday, November 28, from 11:00 to 16:00 at the Klütschule gymnasium, with state coach Daniel Wissel leading the session. Spectators are welcome to attend.
TC Hameln will then hold an internal St. Nicholas tournament on Saturday, December 5, featuring both three-year-old participants and judoka with intellectual disabilities.
Worth a look
