The Kata European Champion-ships, now in their 10th edition, were held recently at the Cottonera Sports Complex with no fewer than 112 pairs from 19 countries, including Malta, participating.
On Day One of competition, all couples contested one of the five official Kata exercises in the pro-gramme.
Each Kata was divided in two groups, depending on age.
Those in attendance, including Euro Judo Union delegates, were presented with various interesting displays on the mat as some title holders succeeded in retaining the honour for yet another year while a group of newcomers to the sport also made an unexpected showing on the winners’ rostrum.
Malta was represented by three pairs: Joe Muscat and Joe Bonello in Katame no Kata, Ivan Esposito and Tiziana Apap in Ju no Kata, and Ray Fava and George Fabri in Kime no Kata.
Muscat and Bonello had already contested the Katame no Kata at the 2009 World Championships in Malta where they had placed seventh with 345 points.
This time they managed a score of 382 but as the level of Kata has increased significantly their effort this time only yielded them a modest ninth placing.
For the other Maltese judokas, the championships were the start of a new experience. Although they did not place in the top positions, their contribution augurs well for the future.
The opening ceremony started off with four young Belgians – Manon Bediat, Enola Gaspard, Julien Bediat and Hugo Moreau – winners of the National Show Championships in their country, demonstrating their judo skills.
Their show was followed by an athletes’ march past and speeches by Parliamentary Sec-retary for Sport Stefan Buon-tempo, Maltese Olympic Com-mittee (MOC) general secretary Joe Cassar and Malta Judo Federation president Envic Galea.
The judo federation was hailed for its contribution in sports tourism and for having attracted to our shores an international event of this calibre.
The European Judo Union vice-president Franco Capelletti declared the championships officially open.
Day Two at the Cottonera Sports Complex was reserved to Kata demonstrations from the best six pairs before a Judo Show European Cup that wrapped up competitions.
In a statement, the Malta Judo Federation said participants showed their appreciation after the hospitality offered by the or-ganising committee.
“Behind every successful event, there is always a great team of volunteers and sponsors, and the Malta Judo Federation is grateful to the support it received in making this event one of the greatest Kata European Championships ever,” the statement said.