Leila matches her clubmate Nika’s European junior title

Only 24 hours after Nika Tomc’s triumph in Podgorica, another young judoka from Celje’s Z'dežele Sankaku club climbed to the top of the European junior podium. Leila Mazouzi won gold in the under-63-kilogram category.

Mazouzi opened the tournament with an ippon victory over Lithuania’s Ugne Skeryte. She then ended her bout against Slovakia’s Paula Matuszek early before defeating Israel’s Lihi Boaron in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinal, she stopped Russia’s Aishat Alieva and reached the final against Germany’s Katharina Kaiser. Mazouzi came from behind to beat Kaiser and claim the title.

The 19-year-old from Prekmurje has trained for several years under Marjan Fabjan, described as Slovenia’s most successful coach. Her junior European title adds to the promise she showed four years ago, when she won a bronze medal at the cadet European Championships in Poreč.