second day of Judo Grand Prix in Zagreb, Croatia. Before the fighting, welcoming speeches by the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, Tomo Medvedthe Vice President of the International Judo Federation, **Laszlo Toth,** and the Director of Education of the International Judo Federation and president of the Croatian Judo Federation, Sanda Pattern.
After his words, the Arena Zagreb enjoyed a beautiful demonstration of adapted judo by the FUJI Judo Club for People with Disabilities.
Already on the tatami, victory of Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard in less than 63 kilos, with which he won his second title in the World Judo Tour. Tomo MedvedDeputy Prime Minister of Croatia, was in charge of hanging the gold to the Canadian judoka.
Since moving up in category to under 73, the Italian Manuel Lombardo He has done nothing but talk about his judo and his results, but gold continued to resist world silver. Until this Saturday, where he achieved his goal against the Cuban Magdiel Estrada.
Lisa Allan, a member of the Executive Committee of the International Judo Federation, handed out the medals. Lombardo spoke after his hopes for the World Championship:
“I have a 100% presence in the final block at the World Championships, but I also have a 100% loss in the final block, so I will try to do better in Tashkent,” Lombardo said of the next championship in the capital of Uzbekistan.
Matic does not disappoint
This Saturday one name stood out above all the others: that of the world champion, Barbara Matic. The Croatian competed in front of her audience and the truth is that she did not disappoint, reaching the final of less than 70 with ippons.
The German waited there Miriam Butkereit, which he managed to break after a very close fight. A great moment for Croatian judo and a gift for the local fans, surely full of future judokas.
Yasuhiro Yamashitaa member of the International Judo Federation and the IOC, did the honors on the podium, with the public devoted to their great champion: “I am happy that everyone acclaims my name, it is like a motivation for me, it is something very good”, said matic after picking up his new gold.
In less than 81, great day for the French Alpha Oumar Djalo, which reached the final explosively. His last obstacle to gold was neither more nor less than the former world champion and Olympic silver Said Mollai. But Djalo had not reached the final to lose it, and after a new show of dynamism he achieved the necessary point to win what is his first gold on the World Judo Tour.
Florin Daniel LascauIJF Director of Arbitration, handed out the medals.
Matic was undoubtedly the star of the day for the local crowd, but that didn’t stop the rest of the Croatian team from shining. Our move of the day goes to VAT OBERANauthor in less than 63 of a fantastic ippon that put the stands on their feet.
The Zagreb Grand Prix concludes this Sunday.
