Watch the other teams-81kg Pepijn Kraak & Joshua de LangeThe Hague is ready for the Junior Europeans this week. The Dutch have a reputation of hosting the best European Juniors. The Hague is the proud host of this year’s European Judo Championships for Juniors. Other Dutch cities that have hosted the European Juniors include Rotterdam in 2002, Arnhem in 1993 and 1983, Scheveningen in 1965 and Amsterdam in 1960.-48kg Vera WandelDutch middleweight Julie Beurskens claimed the European title at the age of 18 and will defend her title in The Hague. Beurskens who was in the Dutch senior team that captured a World bronze in Doha, will be one of the future assets of the Dutch, especially as the team tries to qualify for the Paris Olympic team event. Other talents include Lieke Derks, who won European and World bronze at the junior level -78kg last year and will be aiming for gold this time. She claimed a bronze medal at the just-concluded Upper Austria Grand Prix. Silvan Bulthuis is one of the top favourites at -100kg, having won the European Cup in Poznan in April. He also fought for bronze at last year’s Europeans.-90kg Floris den Hartog & Lars van OostrumThe Hague will see the arrival of fine talent from various countries. Poland and Italy seem to have a spending crop of junior athletes and have so far gained the most victories in the European Junior Tour but looking at the number of medals, for sure it’s France that tops the country rankings. Italy and Poland follow. Other top nations include Spain, The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Azerbaijan.The most successful Dutch athlete at the European Juniors is Edith Bosch who won the title an unprecedented three times. She later became senior World Champion and a triple Olympic medallist. The Dutch have in total achieved Junior European gold a total of 58 times. These champions include Olympic medallists Jenny Gal, Theo Meijer, Deborah Gravenstijn, Henk Grol and Sanne van Dijke. Let’s not forget the Elmont brothers. Guillaume became a world champion five years later, while Dex fought in two World Championships finals and was also a European Senior Champion. We hope to see them in the stands watching Holland’s new talent.-52kg Renske WekkingJudo is no stranger to The Hague. Most recently, the country’s administrative centre hosted the Grand Prix in the same sports venue. In 1996 The Hague was the host of the European Senior Championships and city also hosted the European Team Championships in 1994, 1980 and 1972. With famous athletes such as Olympic and World medallist Anicka van Emden and Grand Slam winner Simeon Catharina calling The Hague their hometown, the city is passionate about judo.-78kg Lieke Derks & Berber LudemaIt’s not only about having an outstanding reputation. Form is another factor and Dutchman Joës Schell is on great form in the same division as Silvan Bulthuis. Schell has so far captured three medals in the European Junior tour.Dutch Women’s team+78kg Paulien Sweers-73kg Quinten van der Veen-63kg Joni Geilen & Esmee Kroon-66kg Jochem van Harten & Nanco Krijthe-57kg Julie BeurskensMenBest Junior countries-100 kg Silvan Bulthuis & Joës Schell Dutch Junior Legends -70kg Nadia SwinkelsDutch talent
