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Judoka Larisa Florian (age 22) has won the silver medal in the 52-kg category at the European Championships for athletes under 23, held in Podgorica (Montenegro), reads a release of the Judo Romanian Federation on Friday remitted to Agerpres. Florian won the first match against Lisa Dengg from Austria, and she also passed Ana Perez Box from Spain in the quarterfinals.
In the penultimate stage of the competition, Larisa Florian defeated Azer Nazakat Azizova, and then lost the final to Distria Krasniqi in Kosovo, climbing the second step of the podium. In this age category, Florian obtained the gold medal in 2013 and the silver one in 2016 in the European Championships. The student of coach Aurelian Fleisz, from the Liberty Oradea Club, won this year the senior Grand Slam in Baku twice.
Also in the 52-kg category, Cleonia Riciu has been defeated in the first round by Italian Francesca Gorda. Madalina Stoica ended the competition in the 48-k category 5th, after she lost the bronze medal to British Kelly Staddon. In the round of sixteen, Stoica won against Turk Gulkader Shenturk and she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Andrea Stojadinov (Serbia). In the re-qualifications stage, the Romanian defeated Belgian Ellen Salens, before losing the match for the bronze medal.
Another athlete performing in the 48-kg category was Catalina Schiopu, defeated in the round of sixteen by Portuguese Maria Siderot. In the 52-kg category, Oana Nicolaescu defeated in the first round Azer Sakina Zairova, but lost in the round of sixteen to Russian Elena Iurkina. In the men's competition, Vlad Luncan was defeated by Dutch Tivo Volleman, in the 60-kg category, while Lucian Bors-Dumitrescu lost in the first round to German Maximilian Heyder.
As many as 301 judoka are from 40 countries are participating in the continental competition in Montenegro, Romania participating with 15 athletes (9 boys and 6 girls).
