The European Cadet Championships are taking place until this Sunday, June 30 in Sofia (Bulgaria). Two days after the fifth place obtained by Axel Cuq in -50 kg, the club of Dojos de l’Agglomération niortaise 79 were represented this Saturday by Léonie Minkada-Caquineau, in the +70 kg category. Reigning European champion, after the title won in Portugal in June 2023, the Niortaise presented herself with the favors of the predictions. She failed in her quest for a double, but will return to Deux-Sèvres with a new international medal around her neck, silver this time.
Exempted from the first round, Léonie Minkada-Caquineau defeated the Czech Anna Krouzkova in the round of 16, in just 18 seconds. She needs a little more time against the Italian Rachele Paris, beaten in 2’37, in the quarter-final, then the Estonian Emma-Melis Aktas, dominated in 3’46 in the semi-final.
In the final, she faced the Polish Zuzanna Banaszewska. Dulled by her semi-final, the Niortaise failed to bring down her opponent and was countered in the middle of the fight before suffering a second waza-ari, synonymous with defeat, after 3’46 of confrontation.
The team event this Sunday
This Sunday, the French team will be competing in the mixed team event. And the two Niortais could have their say in trying to win a medal.
