Germany Wins Ladies Team Division at the 21st European Kendo

[Alex]

This is a report from KW's man at the tournament, Caleb Crane.


Germany Wins Ladies Team Division at the 21st European Kendo Championship in
Lisbon, Portugal
Friday, April 22nd, 2007
Caleb Crane

The German Ladies Team (Safiya Fadai, Sabrian Kumpf, Susanne Aoki, Dance
Yokoo, and Kei Udagawa) soundly defeated the Polish Ladies Team to capture
the 1st European Ladies Team Championship this afternoon. As they did with
all of their opponents, except the French, the German's dominated Poland
nearly from start to finish. Even Sweden, which had managed to defeat Great
Britain in three rounds, was only able to score a single kote(Komaki/Kumpf)
and men(Gustavesson/Yooko) against the Germans. The French, however, caused
the Germans a little bit of consternation and forced a stalemate in two of
their matches (Kumf/Brunel and Yooko/Garcia). In the end the German Ladies
Team remained poised and dominant advancing quickly past all their opponents
to capture the day.

You could expect that winning the inaugural Ladies Team Championship will
give the Germans a swagger and push them to perform strongly in Day 2
(Ladies Individual and Mens Team) and Day 3 (Mens Individual).

[simulacre]

... and here's a photo: http://www.simulacre.org/wordpress/photos/album/72157600141470590/page/1/photo/474708061


Expect more once I have access to my trusty fibre connection back home

[simulacre]

In the Ladies Individual Tournament Bulgaria beat Hungary on a kote point early in the final match.

http://www.simulacre.org/wordpress/p...hoto/475897867

[vyung]

Beautiful photos! Thanks simulacre.

[simulacre]

In the Ladies Individual Tournament Bulgaria beat Hungary on a kote point early in the final match.

http://www.simulacre.org/wordpress/p...hoto/475897867

Sorry it was Belgium and not Bulgaria!

[simulacre]

Sorry it was Belgium and not Bulgaria!

Mistakes abound on that one: Hungary beat Belgium

[Kenshi]

the inaugural Ladies Team Championship

???? Surely thats not right? I was at the Euros in 2001 and 2002 and there were Ladies team champs back then..

[simulacre]

???? Surely thats not right? I was at the Euros in 2001 and 2002 and there were Ladies team champs back then..

I was curious about it to, but that's what was stated at the General Assembly meeting on the first evening...

[Mr.Tvola]

Actually Junior team event was inaugural, ladies team competition has been part of the championships long time.


And cool pictures by the way :-)

[Budo Angel]

ladies team competition has been part of the championships long time

Yes...absolutely. Had me confused too...

[SmellsLikeBogu]

Sorry it was Belgium and not Bulgaria!

Didnt know she won there

[Mike Molloy]

There was a mention in the opening speeches about the transition this year from a Ladies' "Competition" (with 3 person teams) to the full ladies' "Championship" (5 person teams). Not sure I understand the semantic difference though...

[Budo Angel]

Not sure I understand the semantic difference though

agree...is this going the aimless route of 3 set/5 set tennis ?? its an insult to infer that the Ladies taikai at 3 person team, wasn't considered a "championship" in the past...seemed pretty real to me ! lets hope it is a misunderstanding...

[SmellsLikeBogu]

Didnt know she won there

oh she didnt