BC Karlsruhe Women Face Uphill Battle as Judo Play-offs Begin
Aachen, Germany – September 6th – The BC Karlsruhe women’s judo team enters this weekend’s play-offs as clear underdogs, facing a challenging group including hosts TSV Hertha Walheim, JC Bottrop, and JC Leipzig at the Inda-Gymnasium Kornelimünster in Aachen. The play-offs begin Saturday, with the top two teams from each of the two four-team groups advancing to the final round on October 26th in Wuppertal.
The BCK squad faces a especially difficult draw, compounded by a last-minute change initiated by JC Bottrop, which moved spremberg to a different group. “This is a difficult task,” said BCK captain Anke Kaiser, highlighting the disparity in resources between her team and competitors like Bottrop. “Bottrop in particular is a team that has fully different financial and therefore also personnel opportunities than we do.”
The team’s objections to the group realignment were dismissed by the German Judo Bund (DJB). Further complicating matters, key players Salome Steinebrunner and Hannah Müller are unavailable, competing at the simultaneous U21 european Championships in Bratislava. This leaves kaiser with a personnel puzzle, particularly in the 63-kilo class.
Despite the obstacles, Kaiser remains resolute. “We have nothing to loose,” she stated. “Our season goal was reaching these play-offs. We also believed that very much. But we succeeded. Everything else is encore. And we want to enjoy them.”
Kaiser identifies JC Leipzig as their most likely opponent for a potential win, acknowledging that Bottrop and Walheim – benefiting from home advantage - present important challenges. The team will be bolstered by the return of Danish judoka Laerke Marie Olsen (70 kg) and French athlete Lauryn Lage (+78 kg).
