Montréal, March 3, 2013 – Catherine Roberge continued her European tour with a victory Sunday, taking home top honours at the Judo European Open presented in Prague, Czech Republic.

Roberge, who currently ranks 13^th in the under 78 kg class, defeated the Russian Anastasia Dmitrieva (109^th) by ippon to claim the gold medal.

Roberge reached the final by disposing of the Kazakh Albina Amangeldiyeva by ippon before taking down the Dutchwoman Martine Denkes by waza-ari.

“I’m really happy with my performance today, and it definitely puts an exclamation point on my European tour, the Quebecoise athlete explained. The fact that I was able to score points with different techniques is what’s most satisfying for me. I stuck to my game plan and managed to commit fewer errors than my opponents.”

In the semi-finals, Roberge continued her excellent work with a commanding display against the 32^nd ranked Frenchwoman Géraldine Mentouopou, winning by ippon. Mentouopou, along with the Hungarian Abigel Joo, would go on to claim bronze medals.

“I had never faced the Frenchwoman, but I knew she’d put together a string of decent performances, she added. She’s big and has a long reach. I took the first penalty and my coach (her brother Patrick) told me to change the positioning of my hands. From that moment on I controlled the bout.”

Tougher day for Melançon and Jenicek

On Saturday, Joliane Melançon, ranked 14^th in the international standings, lost her very first match to the 132^nd ranked Azerbaijan judoka Shahana Huseynova, falling by way of an ippon in the under 57 kg category.

Before succumbing to defeat, Melançon had scored a yuko, but had also committed two costly fouls.

Also in the under 57 kg division, Nicole Jenicek failed to do better than her compatriot.

The Ontarian, ranked 82^nd overall, also lost her first bout, losing by ippon to the Frenchwoman, Priscilla Gneto.