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The 2023 Junior World Championships is almost upon us, and the rising stars of the IPF are finishing their preparations and will soon be travelling to Cluj Napoca, Romania to do battle on the world's stage. The equipped women will lift on the first three days of the competition, Thursday 24th - Saturday 26th August, with the sub-juniors lifting alongside the juniors.
The only 2022 World Champion who will defend their title this year is Eleonora Pontoni of Italy in the 76kg class. In some classes, last year's champion has moved up an age class, like Sonja-Stefanie Kruger (GER) or Zuzanna Kula (POL). Others have moved up a weight class, like Norway's Juliane Slettnes or Germany's Emily Finnern. At any rate, we are guaranteed many brand new world champions out in Romania.
On day one, keep an eye out for lightweight team mates from the Philippines. Veronica Ompod, the 2021 Junior World Champion in the 43kg class is back and looking for another world title in her final year as a junior. She is joined by Jesse Mae Tabuan who is nominated a long way ahead of anyone else in the 47s.
Bella Vargas will lift in the 57kg class on day two. A bit of a dark horse on the international scene, she's been lifting equipped in the US for years and is nominated over a 100 kilos ahead of anyone else. Emily Finnern has moved up to the 63kg class and it's going to be interesting to see what she can do here. Emily took the silver medal in the 2022 OPEN world championships as well as the gold at Junior Worlds in the 57s.
On day three, the 76s look like a close battle with last year's 69kg world champion going head to head with the reigning 76kg champion, Eleonora Pontoni and only 5kg separates their nominations.
Many of the sub-junior weight classes are shaping up to be exciting battles too so don't miss a minute - every session will be streamed live on our YouTube channel and on Facebook.
Who are you most looking forward to watching? Drop a comment below and let us know,
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