Fourteen-Medal Day for USA Women to Close Out Veterans Worlds

Female judoka had their time to shine on Thursday during the final day of competition at the International Judo Federation Veterans World Championships in Las Vegas as Team USA came away with 14 medals. American women won three gold, four silver and seven bronze over the nine age divisions at the Rio Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas. The men’s M2 (males age 35-39) division was also contested on Thursday.

The 14 medals on Thursday gave Team USA a four-day total of 39 (9 gold, 8 silver and 22 bronze), placing them third among all nations in the gold medal count, trailing only Brazil (15 gold) and France (14 gold).

Wendy Pietroniro (Plymouth, N.H.) led the charge in the F5 (females age 50-54) 63kg division, going undefeated in three matches to claim her first world championship title. She scored wins by waza-ari (half point) over Anke Heidrich (GER) in the quarterfinals and countrywoman Judith Tocaciu (Ridgewood, N.Y. / Szulinski Martial Arts Academy) in the semifinals. The gold medal bout against Fiona Chan (GBR) went to Golden Score (sudden death overtime) with Chan picking up her third and disqualifying shido (penalty) and awarding the gold medal to Pietroniro.

Joining Pietroniro on the top step of the award podium were sisters Maria Velazquez (Salt Lake City, Utah / USA Stars of Salt Lake City) in the F2 (35-39) 57kg division and Flor Velazquez (Salt Lake City, Utah / USA Stars of Salt Lake City) in the F3 (40-44) 63kg competition.

Maria Velazquez won all three of her matches, including a throw for ippon (instant win) over Franziska Walther (GER) in her final bout. Flor Velazquez also went 3-0 on the day, capped off by a gold medal match against Beata Onody (HUN) that went deep into Golden Score, ending only when Onody picked up her third shido at the 7:13 mark.

Silver medalists for Team USA were Marcelline Mkpegue (Gilbert, Ariz. / Tucson Dojo) in the F6 (55-59) +78kg division, Cheri Ann McKeown (Tucson, Ariz. / Tucson Dojo) in the F7 (60-64) 78kg,
Shandra Leeanne Stevenson (Appleton, Wis. / Fox Valley Judo & Jujitsu Club of Wisconsin) in the F6 78kg and Karol Palacios (Seattle, Wash. / Seattle Dojo) in the F2 63kg.

Along with Tocaciu, earning bronze medals for the U.S. were Tiara Kaye (Gardena, Calif.) in the F1 (30-34) 78kg division, Gudrun Gunther (Sierra Vista, Ariz. / Tucson Dojo) in the F4 +78, Brianna Matsuura (Torrance, Calif.) in the F2 52kg, Amber Jones (Diamond, Mo. / Joplin Judo and JiuJitsu) in the F3 70kg, Lisa Gonzalez (S. Abington Twp, Pa. / Jason Morris Judo Center – Scranton) in the F4 63kg and Sandra Hauptmann (Chicago, Ill. / Tohkon Judo Academy) in the F4 78kg.

Ranking of Nations
1. Brazil (Gold: 15 - Silver: 8 - Bronze: 15)
2. France (Gold: 14 - Silver: 18 - Bronze: 20)
3. USA (Gold: 9 - Silver: 8 - Bronze: 22)
4. Kazakhstan (Gold: 6 - Silver: 5 - Bronze: 7)
5. Germany (Gold: 5 - Silver: 12 - Bronze: 12)
6. Mongolia (Gold: 5 - Silver: 5 - Bronze: 6)
7. Georgia (Gold: 4 - Silver: 4 - Bronze: 4)
8. Italy (Gold: 2 - Silver: 2 - Bronze: 4)
9. Japan (Gold: 2 - Silver: 1 - Bronze: 2)
10. Netherlands (Gold: 2 - Silver: 1 - Bronze: - )

Top eight and U.S. results from Day 4 are as follows:

Men’s 2 34-39 60kg
1. Meirambek Yesmaganbetov (KAZ)
2. Dimitri Muladze (GEO)
3. Colin Francis (GBR)
4. Eymeric Saltre (FRA)
5. Semen Maltsev (McKinney, Texas / Eastside Dojo)

Men’s 2 34-39 66kg
1. Raimondo Degortes (ITA)
2. Gael Andre Dit Gallas (FRA)
3. Bachir Dernoune (FRA)
3. Samat Sapishev (KAZ)
5. Pascal Belnoue (FRA)
5. Daniya Taiyr (KAZ)
7. Kaike Albuquerque (BRA)
7. Almas yelbassiyev (KAZ)
Also Competed: Nicholas Matsumoto (Wilmington, Calif.), 0-1

Men’s 2 34-39 73kg
1. Altansukh Dovdon (MGL)
2. Bayarmagnai Chinchuluun (MGL)
3. Pedro’ Neto (BRA)
3. Islam Baialinov (KGZ)
5. Harri Hakala (FIN)
5. Berik Mailybayev (KAZ)
7. Humberto Aguilar (CHI)
7. Aidarbek Sakhibedenov (KAZ)
Also Competed: Alex Jacobson (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 2-2
Derek Takeshita (Lakewood, Calif. / Norwalk Judo Dojo), 0-1
Ray Koppel (Linneus, Maine), 1-2
Brian Lopez (Savage, Md. / Hui-O-Judo Beltsville), 0-1
Genaro Tena-Adovasio (Kennesaw, Ga. / West Georgia Judo Club), 0-1
Derek Mueller (Charlotte, N.C. / Yungwirth Judo Academy), 1-2
Alan Howard Lo (Renton, Wash. / Seattle Dojo), 0-1

Men’s 2 34-39 81kg
1.Bekzat Manasbayev (KAZ)
2. Vinzenz Dotzler (GER)
3. Clement Condomines (FRA)
3. Aidynbek Malkey (KAZ)
5. Nurzhan Zhumazhan (KAZ)
5. Akos Fekete (SVK)
7. Justin Wood (McKinney, Texas / Eastside Dojo)
7. Dominic Schmidt (GER)
Also Competed: Andrew Robertson (Moreno Valley, Calif. / Riverside Youth Judo Club), 0-1
Marcus Allison (Raleigh, N.C.), 0-1
Juan Leon Guerrero (Carlsbad, Calif. / Art of Takedowns), 0-2
Raymond De Leon (Garwood, N.J. / Cranford JKC), 0-2
Edwin Vallejo (Fairfax, Va. / Sport Judo), 1-1
Marco Ferrer (Dighton, Mass. / Celtic Judo Club), 0-1
Max Luckey (Somerville, Mass. / Tohoku Judo Club), 0-1

Men’s 2 34-39 90kg
1. Aleksandr Marmeljuk (EST)
2. Avazbek Korganov (KAZ)
3. Ricardo Jesus (BRA)
3. Osman Hanci (BEL)
5. Vitalii Kasap (UKR)
5. Alexis Plantard Gnorra (FRA)
7. Zack Patteson (Dallas, Texas / Eastside Dojo)
7. Fabien Ferrier (FRA)
Also Competed: Mohammed Ghasemi (Newport Beach, Calif. / Senshi Judo, Inc.), 0-1
Christopher Boyd (Plymouth, N.H.), 0-1
Vito Picozzo (Covington Township, Pa. / Jason Morris Judo Center – Scranton), 2-2
Christopher Bennett (Long Valley, N.J. / Cranford JKC), 0-1
Joshua White (Atlanta, Ga. / Black Ice Judo), 0-1
Oliveira Lundu (Scarborough, Maine), 0-1
German Echeverria (Panorama City, Calif. / San Fernando Valley Judo Club), 0-1
Joma Saleem (Tampa, Fla. / Mambi Judo Club), 0-2
Rodney Gonzales (Livermore, Calif.), 0-1

Men’s 2 34-39 100kg
1. Ludovic Gobert (FRA)
2. Leonardo Kubo (BRA)
3. Thomas Tandoi (ITA)
3. Lomeri Zhorzholiani (GEO)
5. Zafar Arslanov (UZB)
5. Szymon Kowalski (POL)
7. Tarak Ben Chikh Khlifa (Canton, Ohio)
7. Richard Turner (CAN)
Also Competed: Rim Mohamed (Chicago, Ill. / Evolution Dojo), 0-1
Adam Skinner (Pleasanton, Calif.), 0-1

Men’s 2 34-39 +100kg
1. Rubens Filho (BRA)
2. Jeff Allen (CAN)
3. Dimitrije Vukotic (MNE)
3. Janchivdorj Bunddorj (MGL)
5. Mark Adams (GBR)
5. Alexis Wojsznarowicz (Woodford, Va. / Wall 2 Wall Martial Arts)
7. Dusko Kolundzija (CRO)
7. Donald Sanders (Raleigh, N.C. / El Toro Judo Club)
Roger Smith (Jurupa Valley, Calif. / Riverside Youth Judo Club), 0-1
Matthew McCormick (Carbondale, Kan. / Kansas Judo), 1-2
Ranson Shepherd (Las Vegas, Nev.), 0-1
Greg Prior (San Mateo, Calif. / Griffin Judo), 1-2

Women’s 1 30-34 52kg
1. Jessica Linder (GER)
2. Verena Thumm (GER)
3. Angelique Garcia (FRA)
3. Tatiana Uehara (BRA)
5. Maelis Verdoux (FRA)
5. Sarah Takushi (Atlanta, Ga. / Black Ice Judo)
7. Chantsaldulam Jagvaral (MGL)
7. Hailey Gentile (Plymouth, N.H.)

Women’s 1 30-34 63kg
1. Tserennadmid Tsend-Ayush (MGL)
2. Meryl Hirtzig (FRA)
3. Caroline Brayson (GBR)
4. Marley Robbins (Fall City, Wash. / Bridgetown Judo)
5. Whitney Hawkins (Tampa, Fla. / Mambi Judo Club)

Women’s 1 30-34 78kg
1. Pamela Ventura (BRA)
2. Tumentsetseg Boldbaatar (MGL)
3. Tiara Kaye (Gardena, Calif.)

Women’s 2 35-39 52kg
1. Aizaada Zhanalieva (KGZ)
2. Kelbet Nurgazina (KAZ)
3. Brianna Matsuura (Torrance, Calif.)
4. Dijana Sadikovska (BIH)

Women’s 2 35-39 57kg
1. Maria Velazquez (Salt Lake City, Utah / USA Stars of Salt Lake City)
2. Jenny Bicko (GER)
3. Ludmila Svaton (CZE)
4. Franziska Walther (GER)

Women’s 2 35-39 63kg
1. Angelique Duriez (FRA)
2. Karol Palacios (Seattle, Wash. / Seattle Dojo)
3. Mylene Molnar (FRA0
3. Izabela Herdzik (POL)
5. Daniela Kortmann (GER0
5. Toshiko Arriola (JPN)

Women’s 2 35-39 70kg
1. Tiphaine Le Gall (FRA)
2. Hanna Thimsen (GER)
3. Cecile Schockmel (FRA)
4. Laura Mullard (FRA)

Women’s 2 35-39 +78kg
1. Ana Paula Parpinelli (BRA)
2. Zita Notter (GER)
3. Saskia Doebrich (GER)
3. Lucile Dupont Venet (FRA)
5. Ritu Ritu (IND)
5. Lucie Delaire (FRA)
7. Fujiko Contreras (CHI)
7. Karlygash Akumbayeva (KAZ)

Women’s 3 40-44 52kg
1. Lucie Bronner (FRA)
2. Bianca Ockedahl (CAN)
3. Miriam Moreno Velazquez (ESP)
3. Elen Merelli (ITA)
5. Ana Lucia Perugachi (ECU)
5. Oyunchimeg Galkhuu (MGL)

Women’s 3 40-44 57kg
1. Vanessa Martin (FRA)
2. Aya Romero (JPN)
3. Caroline Rawlings (GBR)
3. Laurie Wiltshire (CAN)
5. Leina Arciga (Sacramento, Calif. / Team Sacramento Judo)
5. Destiny Diehl (CAN)
7. Paola Martinez (CHI)
7. Christine Kuehn (GER)
Also Competed: Lori Latimer (Upper Darby, Pa. / El Idrissi Judo Academy), 0-2
Lori Bleau (Denville, N.J. / Judo Kai of Fairfield), 0-2

Women’s 3 40-44 63kg
1. Flor Velazquez (Salt Lake City, Utah / USA Stars of Salt Lake City)
2. Beata Onody (HUN)
3. Mirjana Martinovic (MNE)
3. Julie Oestergaard (DEN)
5. Juliane Gleboczyk (GER)
5. Jennifer Williams (Covington Twp, Pa. / Jason Morris Judo Center – Scranton)

Women’s 3 40-44 70kg
1. Rieko Sasaki (JPN)
2. Jessica Muenster (GER)
3. Amber Jones (Diamond, Mo. / Joplin Judo and JiuJitsu)
4. Emmanuelle Vacher (FRA)
5. Julia Boehnisch (GER)

Women’s 3 40-44 78kg
1. Sorraya Bekkouche (FRA)
2. Blandine Guimard (FRA)
3. Stephanie Gobert (FRA)
3. Julia Eckert (GER)
5. Adeline Dezoteux (FRA)
5. Christina Zahl (GER)
7. Priscillia Mullard (FRA)
7. Valerie Boussiquault (FRA)
Also Competed: Lindsay McDermott (Bossier City, La. / Louisiana Judo), 0-2

Women’s 4 45-49 52kg
1. Elodie Foeillet (NCL)
2. Ana Roldan Viar (ESP)
3. Isabelle Gelinas (CAN)
3. Alessandra Carta (ITA)
5. Carolina Costa (POR)
5. Nicole Da Silva (BRA)
7. Virginie Delaunay (FRA)

Women’s 4 45-49 57kg
1. Catarina Diniz (POR)
2. Laetitia Wuilmet (PYF)
3. Romy Muecke (GER)
4. Marita Prahl (SWE)

Women’s 4 45-49 63kg
1. Simone Glenz (GER)
2. Delphine Roland (FRA)
3. Lisa Gonzalez (S. Abington Twp, Pa. / Jason Morris Judo Center – Scranton)
4. Rekha Katre (IND)

Women’s 4 45-49 70kg
1. Barbara Harel (FRA)
2. Evelin Pihlak (EST)
3. Phyllis Marques (BRA)
3. Sandra Gorostiaga (ARG)
5. Mariko Glover (CAN)
5. Viviana Martinez (ECU)
7. Altantulkhuur Ochirbat (MGL)

Women’s 4 45-49 78kg
1. Julie Brunet (FRA)
2. Laurence Hypolite (FRA)
3. Sandra Hauptmann (Chicago, Ill. / Tohkon Judo Academy)
3. Birgit Ryningen (NOR)
5. Ana Lucia Alvim (BRA)
5. Petra Foerster (GER)
7. Claudia Loos (AUT)
7. Maria Isabel Aleman (ECU)

Women’s 4 45-49 +78kg
1. Tserenkhand Dorjgotov (MGL)
2. Melanie Machy (FRA)
3. Magalie Leplet (FRA)
3. Gudrun Gunther (Sierra Vista, Ariz. / Tucson Dojo)
5. Sogoo Yadamdorj (MGL)
5. Lacramioara Gaita (ROU)
7. Amanda McAlpine (CAN)
7. Bittu Sharma Bhateley (IND)
Also Competed: Joey Hetzel (Amherst Junction, Wis.), 0-2

Women’s 5 50-54 63kg
1. Wendy Pietroniro (Plymouth, N.H.)
2. Fiona Chan (GBR)
3. Varneilda Rodrigues (BRA)
3. Judith Tocaciu (Ridgewood, N.Y. / Szulinski Martial Arts Academy)
5. Narantuya Sandiv (MGL)
5. Pamela Moye (Los Angeles, Calif. / Sawtelle Judo Dojo)
7. Anke Heidrich (GER)
7. Tsevegmed Namdag (MGL)

Women’s 5 50-54 70kg
1. Lenka Konigova (CZE)
2. Murielle Godot (FRA)
3. Zulfiyya Huseynova (AZE)
4. Kanokwan Gee (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Women’s 6 55-59 52kg
1. Lisa Griffiths (AUS)
2. Odile Sant (FRA)
3. Silke Ruhl (GER)

Women’s 6 55-59 57kg
1. Lena Sterea (ROU)
2. Anita Sprenger (GER)
3. Muriel Steiner (SWE)
4. Leila Bertrand (FRA0
5. Dominique Poupeau (FRA)

Women’s 6 55-59 70kg
1. Anne Sjo (SWE)
2. Ninfa Alvarez (CHI)
3. Kamilla Peter (HUN)
3. Myriam Hureau (FRA)
5. Sonia Boucher (FRA)
5. Gabriela Nache (ROU)
7. Altanchimeg Dashkhuu (MGL)
7. Amparito Guamanquispe (ECU)

Women’s 6 55-59 78kg
1. Anja Dorothee Uehlein (GER)
2. Shandra Leeanne Stevenson (Appleton, Wis. / Fox Valley Judo & Jujitsu Club of Wisconsin)
3. Dorjdulam Jadamba (MGL)
3. Iwona Osenkowska (POL)
5. Ariunaa Shagdarsuren (MGL)
5. Bolortsatsral Batmunkh (MGL)

Women’s 6 55-59 +78kg
1. Marie-Claude Ivaldi (FRA)
2. Marcelline Mkpegue (Gilbert, Ariz. / Tucson Dojo)
3. Rogeria Silva (BRA)
4. Tsolmon Oyunbileg (MGL)

Women’s 7 60-64 57kg
1. Sylvia Hackel (GER)
2. Hanne Myrnes (NOR)
3. Manjeet Arya (IND)
4. Monica Guadagnini (Azusa, Calif. / San Gabriel Judo Dojo)

Women’s 7 60-64 78kg
1. Melody Scott (NZL)
2. Cheri Ann McKeown (Tucson, Ariz. / Tucson Dojo)
3. Altansuvd Badamaargaa (MGL)
4. Neena Saini (IND)

Women’s 8 65-69 63kg
1. Silva Luisa (ANG)
2. Kay Andrews (GBR)
3. Astrid Machulik (GER)
4. Oyunbileg Saaral (MGL)

Women’s 9 70+ 70kg
1. Francoise Dufresne (FRA)
2. Perla Margarita Alonso (URU)