First day of competition for IBSA sports at the European ParaYouth Games 2022 (EPYG2022), which is taking place in the Sport Hall at the Pajulahti Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.

Time to watch some rising stars in Finland, but the real deal came from the U19’s Goalball European Championships. Great Britain, Israel, and Turkey (in the women’s competition), and Great Britain, Israel, Spain, Denmark, and Finland (in the men’s competition) are playing for the U19’s continental title.

The Turkish female player, Fatma Guler, was the early star, scoring 20 goals and leading by far the women’s top scorer list. The second best is Noa Malka, from Israel, with six goals.

This means that the Turkish female national team had a rocket start in the tournament. Victory in both matches played, and with the same result: 13-3. It means that Turkey is the leader of the standings, with Israel being next after a win against the British squad.

In the men’s competition, Israel is leading after three victories, followed by Denmark, which got two wins but only played two matches. This Saturday, the second day of competition, will bring the head match of the tournament when the two top national teams meet at last.

These are the results and standings from Day 1:

Women’s
Israel vs Great Britain – 5-3
Turkey vs Israel – 13-3
Great Britain-Turkey – 3-13
1. Turkey (2G-2W-9P)
2. Israel (1G-1W-3P)
3. Great Britain (2G-2L-0P)

Men’s
Spain vs Israel – 0-10
Finland vs Denmark – 3-13
Great Britain vs Israel – 4-12
Denmark vs Spain – 12-2
Israel vs Finland – 12-2
Spain vs Great Britain – 5-8
1. Israel (3G-3W-9P)
2. Denmark (2G-2W-6P)
3. Great Britain (2G-1W-1L-3P)
4. Finland (2G-2L-0P)
5. Spain (3G-3L-0P)

Showdown, despite being a demonstration sport, got a busy day and showed all the potential. All the action translated in the results:

Men’s competition
Paavo Tulisalo (FIN)-Väinö Rihti (FIN) – 0-2 (8-11, 0-12)
Simon Rejtar (CZE)-Juulia Tulisalo (FIN) – 2-0 (11-7, 11-9)
Vaclav Krychtalek (CZE)-Filippo Calchetti (ITA) – 2-1 (11-7, 6-11, 11-7)
Timotej Tarkos (SLO)-Jyri Grönlund (FIN) – 0-2 (2-12, 4-11)
Paavo Tulisalo (FIN)-Jyri Grönlund (FIN) – 0-2 (8-11, 6-11)
Vaclav Krychtalek (CZE)-Juulia Tulisalo (FIN) – 2-0 (11-2, 11-3)
Timotej Tarkos (SLO)-Simon Rejtar (CZE) – 1-2 (11-7, 9-11, 8-12)
Väinö Rihti (FIN)-Filippo Calchetti (ITA) – 2-0 (11-4, 11-2)
Paavo Tulisalo (FIN)-Timotej Tarkos (SLO) – 1-2 (4-11, 11-1, 5-12)
Väinö Rihti (FIN)-Juulia Tulisalo (FIN) – 2-1 (12-2, 6-11, 11-3)
Simon Rejtar (CZE)-Vaclav Krychtalek (CZE) – 1-2 (8-11, 12-9, 10-12)
Filippo Calchetti (ITA)-Jyri Grönlund (FIN) – 0-2 (1-11, 4-11)
Paavo Tulisalo (FIN)-Simon Rejtar (CZE) – 0-2 (2-11, 7-11)
Väinö Rihti (FIN)-Vaclav Krychtalek (CZE) – 2-0 (11-5, 12-2)
Filippo Calchetti (ITA)-Timotej Tarkos (SLO) – 1-2 (7-11, 11-5, 12-14)
Jyri Grönlund (FIN)-Juulia Tulisalo (FIN) – 2-1 (3-11, 12-5, 11-2)

#Accessibility – Woman Showdown player during the competition on Day 1 at Pajulahti

Women’s competition
Women, Tiia Innos (EST)-Gabriella Bruno (ITA) – 2-0 (11-5, 11-0)
Women, Rosa Riccardi (ITA)-Tatiana Blattnerova (SLO) – 2-0 (12-0, 11-5)
Women, Rosa Riccardi (ITA)-Tiia Innos (EST) – 0-2 (8-11, 5-11)
Women, Marketa Trncakova (CZE)-Tatiana Blattnerova (SLO) – 2-1 (11-5, 6-11, 11-3)
Women, Marketa Trncakova (CZE)-Rosa Riccardi (ITA) – 2-1 (11-2, 6-11, 12-1)
Women, Tatiana Blattnerova (SLO)-Gabriella Bruno (ITA) – 1-2 (13-10, 4-12, 6-12)

For Judo, this Friday was the only day of competition work. The combats took place during the afternoon and the final standings are the following:

B18/J2+90
1.Rodrigo Suarez (ESP)

B18/J2-60
1.Youn Balcou (FRA)
2.Milo Nowak (GER)
3.Samuel van Melle (GER)
4.Vigo Nilsson (SWE)
5.Javier Muñoz (ESP)

B18/J2-73
1.Béla Heinze (GER)
2.Lukas Riedel (GER)

M21/J1-60
1.Fabian Amarfi (ITA)

M21/J1-73
1.Dong Camanni (ITA)

M21/J2-60
1.Jasmin Catic (CRO)

M21/J2-73
1.Leon Lange (GER)
2.Jeremy Lefebvre (FRA)

M21/J2-90
1.Alban de Larminat (FRA)

W21/J1+70
1.Mathilda Maas (GER)

W21/J2-57
1.Jelena Breskovic (CRO)
2.Alice Salvatore (ITA)

W21/J2-70
1.Lina Strotzel (GER)

Photo: Jussi Eskola/EPYG