JOECH 2022: Individual wins for Coupe & Todev

Individual Competitions opened the first day of the Junior Open European Championships 2022 in Pokljuka. It was team France, who could rejoice in the complete medal collection and athletes from Russia, Bulgaria and Italy earning their first success.

No misses allowed in women’s competition

The only way to get to the women podium today was with a clean shooting score. The first one to accomplish this was Jeanne Richard of France, the winner of the Individual competition in YJWCH 2021. She stayed in the first position until her teammate Camille Coupe cleared all targets and crossed the finish line with an advantage of 4.6 seconds. Third place went to Russia’s Anastasiia Grishina, who left the last shooting in the lead, but lost 14.2 seconds to Coupe in the last loop.

It was a dream start for the two young French. After the competition Camille Coupe said: "I think the words are not enough to describe how happy I am today. It's my first victory in an international race and to share it with one of my best friends, I couldn't dream better."

First win of the season for Bulgaria

Coming from the World Cup in Ruhpolding, Blagoy Todev of Bulgaria benefited from this experience and showed a solid performance with the best shooting total time and 14th course time. Despite one miss in the last shooting, he managed to take the win in the finish.

"I am feeling very happy about this race. It’s my first IBU medal and the feelings are really strange, but good. After the last shooting I was a little bit angry because I missed the last bullet, but I’m feeling really happy,“ summarized the 20-years-old Bulgarian.

Second place went to Nicolo‘ Betemps of Italy, who also missed one target in final standing and crossed the finish line 20.4 seconds behind the later winner. Gaetan Paturel added another medal for France, finishing third (+29.1 s).

The JOECH in Pokljuka continues tomorrow with Single Mixed Relay Juniors and Mixed Relay Juniors competitions.

Photos: Reichert/IBU

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