Canadian judokas earn 30 medals – including eight gold – on opening day of Montréal Panamerican Cup

Montréal, November 16, 2023 – Canada’s junior judokas kicked off the opening day of the Montréal Junior Panamerican Cup with an incredible 30 medal haul – including eight gold – at the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau, on Thursday. Sarah Ekosky and Vincent Nepton were just two of the successful judokas earning medals, who also earned the attention of crowd with their huge smiles on, and off, the podium.

Competing in the Under 63kg category, Ekosky had a picture perfect day, winning all three of her bouts to reach the top step of the podium. She first defeated American Bianca Morello before scoring a place in the grand final with a win over eventual fifth-place finisher Dakota Sanzana.

Then, in the final duel, the Manitoban once again got the proverbial last word on fellow Canadian rival Margot Chevalier, whom she defeated thanks to two waza-ari that earned her the coveted gold medal.

“I’m very proud of myself, but also proud to dedicate this medal to my province and to my coaches. They helped me a lot with my game plan today (Thursday) and I’m very grateful,” noted the 19-year-old athlete at the end of the competition.

Having already won national titles in the U16 and U18 age groups, she put her experience to good use against well-known opponents with very different styles in her final matches of the day. Her preparation most certainly paid off!

Dakota is left-handed and Margot is right-handed, so I had to use really opposite strategies,” explained the Selkirk Judo Club athlete. “The grip is not at all the same, but I made sure I was ready for these bouts, and I’m very happy with my performance overall. I was able to avoid mistakes while keeping my sight firmly on the goal!”

Ekosky’s expectations for herself will be just as high on Saturday, when she takes to the tatami for the senior tournament in her class. “I always have victory in mind when I start a competition, and if that’s not possible this weekend, I’d at least like to be on the podium,” she confided before rejoining her friends and family.

Four other Canadians finished the day with coveted golds around their necks: Heidi Quach (-48 kg), Missy Jen Dorval Mbele (-70 kg), Frédérique Lavigne (-78 kg) and Marianna Karas (+78 kg).

Margot Chevalier, Valeria Kostrovets (-48 kg), Abigail Smith (-70 kg) and Naomi Fowler (-78 kg) earned themselves silvers, while Kylee Esparbès (-48 kg), Sarra Bourihane (-52 kg), Laurence Gagnon (-52 kg), Hailey Ko (-57 kg), Hayden Thibeault (-57 kg), Loika Robertson (-63 kg) and Maralgoo Batbayar (-63 kg) each won a bronze medal final in their respective categories.

Feeling ‘light’ after a victory

In junior men’s action, Jumber Meladze (-81 kg), Yehor Paladii (-90 kg) and Vincent Nepton added three gold medals to Canada’s tally with virtually flawless tournaments.

While all three were considered among the big favourites in their draw Thursday morning, the day ended up proving to Nepton that nothing is guaranteed – and that you always have to give it your all to reach the top step of the podium.

“I feel light!” he laughed after receiving his gold medal. “I knew I had a good chance of winning before I start the tournament, and honestly I wasn’t aiming for anything other than gold. I had to work hard, but I’m happy with the result.”

It’s worth noting that the Quebecer was indeed tested straight from the start by his teammate Alexandre Desbiens. Desbiens gave the eventual champion a tough time, but in the end Meladze emerged victorious, after a very physical duel.

The latter bout ended up inspiring Vincent Nepton. Consecutive wins over Olivier Maurice in the semi-final, and Éliandre Barriault-Tremblay in the grand final, took him to the top of his category.

“My first fight was more difficult, but it really woke me up,” confided 17-year-old Nepton. “After that, I knew that my confidence and experience would make the difference, and that’s exactly what happened, especially in the final, which I won by ippon.”

National champion in the Under-18 age class and Canada’s representative at the most recent World Cadet Championships, Nepton will be busy over the next few months, in addition to thinking big about his season. In less than 48 hours, he’ll reach a new milestone in terms of personal goals, when he’s in action at the Senior tournament.

While he hopes to take advantage of the opportunity to test his skills against older opponents in preparation for the rest of his season, he certainly won’t be lacking in motivation so long as he can keep the stars from his eyes. How come? Well, he’ll be fighting on the same tatamis as Antoine Bouchard (also a member of Club Judokas Jonquière), who will be making his final appearance on Saturday in the Under 73 kg tournament.

“He’s a role model for us all! We’re used to seeing him quite often at the club, but it’ll be even more exciting to fight in the same competition as him and to be able to watch him once more,” he concluded.

In addition to the medals won by Nepton, Meladze, Paladii, and Barriault-Tremblay, and ten other Canadians were draped in medals on the men’s side, starting with Michael Akbashev, who took silver in the Under-100 kg category.

Alexandre Desbiens, Fahd Fithane (-66 kg), Daniil Kremerman (-66 kg), Artem Neyolov (-73 kg), Tigran Kryvtskyi (-81 kg), Lasha Tsatsalashvili (-81 kg), Faniry-Michael Andriamanana (-90 kg), Oleksansdr Kaplin (-90 kg) and Nick Luchkin (-100 kg) all earned bronze medals.

To check out all of today’s amazing judo results: click here.

No less than 134 athletes from one of the ten countries represented in the Junior classes fought on the first day of the event, which runs until Sunday.

Thrilling judo bouts resume on Friday morning at Centre Pierre-Charbonneau with the cadet tournaments. Over 100 athletes from all across Canada will be competing for one of 15 titles at stake.

The weekend days will be devoted to senior judo bouts.

Don’t forget to follow your favourite Canadian judokas, and check out more information about the Montréal Junior Panamerican Cup here.

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Written by Sportcom for Judo Canada

For more information:

Patrick Esparbès
Chief Operating Officer
Judo Canada
(514) 668-6279
p.esparbes@judocanada.org