This past weekend for the third of three consecutive years, the 2018 Open Nationals took place at the Calgary Olympic Oval. A very determined Ontario team took to the tatami to challenge themselves against the rest of Canada. The Ontario team started strongly on the first day with an impressive 9 medals in the Kata competition. Also in the inaugural year of the National Ne Waza competition Judo Ontario captured two bronze medals.
The second day had the U18 and Veterans battling each other for spots on the podium. Ontario collected 11 medals. Asia Douglas, Erik Vandersanden, and Keagan Young were all able to reach the top step of the podium and snag gold medals.
U16 and U21 athletes flexed their muscles on the third day and Team Ontario was able to secure 17 medals including 4 gold medals. Leading the way for Ontario with dominating performances were gold medals winners Asia Douglas, Amr Abd Elrehim, Benjamin Kendrick, and Shady el Nahas.
The fourth and final day of this year’s competition had the Senior age group testing their skills. Judo Ontario added another 10 medals. Judo Ontario’s men’s team impressed with 4 gold medals by Shujon Mazumder, Bradley Langlois, Benjamin Kendrick, and Shady El Nahas.
The 2018 Open Nationals closed with the banquet and awards night. Judo Ontario was well represented with several award winners. The Outstanding Shiai Volunteer Award went to Steve Horvath. Aartje Sheffield was awarded the Presidential Recognition Award. Jessica Klimkait garnered Judo Canada’s Most Outstanding Senior Female award, Shady el Nahas was named Judo Canada’s Most Outstanding U21 Male, Most Outstanding U18 Male Benjamin Kendrick, and Asia Douglas Most Outstanding U16 Female. Finally but not least Luka Khatelishvili by way of batsugan was awarded his shodan.
Judo Ontario’s full results are listed below.
Gold
Bailey Hu
Ju-no-Kata Senior
Shane Rooney
Ju-no-Kata Senior
Ella Dunstone
Ju-no-Kata U21
Madison Venugopal
Ju-no-Kata U21
Allyn Takahashi
Kodokan Goshin Jutsu
Raj Venugopal
Kodokan Goshin Jutsu
Asia Douglas
U18 +70kg
Erik Vandersanden
U18 -60kg
Keagan Young
U18 -73kg
Asia Douglas
U16 +70kg
Amr Abd Elrehim
U16 +73kg
Shady El Nahas
U21 -100kg
Benjamin Kendrick
U21 -90kg
Shady El Nahas
Senior -100kg
Shujon Mazumder
Senior -55kg
Bradley Langlois
Senior -73kg
Benjamin Kendrick
Senior -90kg
Silver
Shane Rooney
Katame-no-Kata
Davin Marion
Katame-no-Kata
Allyn Takahashi
Kime-no-Kata
Davin Marion
Kime-no-Kata
Edward Zupancic
Kodokan Goshin Jutsu
James Cook
Kodokan Goshin Jutsu
Matteo Fantozzt
U18 -50kg
Ryan Conklin-Bric
U18 -55kg
Ron Hanji
U18 -73kg
Rayleigh Becker
U18 -90kg
Simon Popov
U18 +90kg
Alyssandra Phoebe Manuel
U16 -52kg
Thomas Sparkes
U16 -55kg
Bogdan Cherkashyn
U16 -73kg
Owen Macumber
U16 +73kg
Sava Antic
U21 -73kg
Luka Khatelishvili
U21 -81kg
Allayah Copeland
U21 -78kg
Mohab El Nahas
Senior -90kg
Bronze
Monica Lin
Ju-no-Kata Senior
Alissa Dumitru
Ju-no- Kata Senior
Shane Rooney
Nage-no-Kata Senior
Bailey Hu
Nage-no-Kata Senior
Kaden Venugopal
Nage-no-Kata U21
Davin Marion
Nage-no-Kata U21
Amanda McAlpine
Grand Championship Ne Waza
Russell Chan
Ne Waza -66kg
Chris Muirhead
Ne Waza +81kg
Alexandria LeFort
U18 -70kg
Ben Andrews
U18 -73kg
Alexandr Khilov
Veterans -81kg
Emily Kapustin
U16 -52kg
Emma Blake
U16 -63kg
Maksim Rudakov
U16 -46kg
Johnathan Xinkas
U16 -50kg
Erik Vandersanden
U21 -60kg
Dontae de Jesus
U21 -60kg
Chris Muirhead
Senior +100kg
Ryan Conklin-Bric
Senior -55kg
Dontae de Jesus
Senior -60kg
Keagan Young
Senior -73kg
Luka Khatelishvili
Senior -81kg