ZAGREB (CROATIA) – Second day of competition, at Zagreb Arenafor the Zagreb Judo Grand Prix, organized by International Judo Federation (IJF)last round of the World Tour before the World Championships in Uzbekistan, scheduled in Tashkent (6-13 October).
At the official opening ceremony, Tomo MedvedDeputy Prime Minister of Croatia, gave a speech, together with Laszlo Tothvice president of the IJF and president of the EJU, e Sanda Corakformer Yugoslav great champion, Didactic Director of the International Judo Federation and President of the Croatian Judo Federation.
Together they attended an adapted judo demonstration by the Judo Club for people with disabilities FUJI.
The triumph of Manuel Lombardo
In the men’s category -73 kg, great victory for the 23-year-old blue Manuel Lombardo, already 2021 world silver in Budapest (in the -66 category) and European champion in Lisbon.
After moving up in the category, this is the first success in -73 kg for the Turin athlete of the Army.
Having thus redeemed the disappointing fifth place at the recent Mediterranean Games, now Lombardo’s goal is the 2024 Paris Olympics (but first there is the 2022 World Cup in Tashkent, in October).
In the final, Manuel Lombardo beat Cuban Magdiel Estrada.
Bronze for the Brazilian Daniel Cargnin and for the South Korean Eunkyul Lee.
The medals were delivered by Lisa Allanmember of the IJF Executive Committee.
Gold for Barbara Matić, the idol of the house
In the first women’s final of the day, category -70 kg, triumph of the house idol, the 27-year-old Croatian Barbara Matić.
Highly anticipated by the Zagreb public, Barbara Matić – 2021 world champion in Budapest – kept her promise: gold medal!
In the final, she beat the German Miriam Butkereit.
To complete the Croatian party, the bronze of the other home athlete, Lara Cvjetko.
Bronze also for the Venezuelan Elvismar Rodriguez.
The medals were delivered by Yasuhiro Yamashitamember of the European Commission of the IJF and member of the IOC,
The “Alpha” factor
Among men, in the -81 kg category, success for the 25-year-old Frenchman Alpha Djalo.
In the final, he defeated the Iranian naturalized Azerbaijani Saeid Mollaei, former world champion and Olympic silver medalist.
Bronze for the Georgian Tato Grigalashvili and for the Portuguese Joao Fernando.
Florin Daniel LascauDirector of Referees of the IJF, presented the medals.
Another Canadian gold
The Canadian women’s team wins the second gold medal in two days in Zagreb.
This time, in the -63 kg category, it is Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard.
The Canadian athlete (28) beat Venezuelan Anriquelis Barrios in the final, taking her second World Tour title.
Tomo MedvedDeputy Prime Minister of Croatia, presented the medals.
Bronze for the Mongolian Gankhaich Bold and for the Brazilian Ketley Quadros.
The move of the day: Iva Oberan’s ippon
Barbara Matic’s presence in the spotlight did not stop the rest of the Croatian team from performing at the top of their possibilities.
Our “move of the day” was to VAT OBERAN (22 years old), who with a fantastic ippon gave the home fans further joy.
A great way to end the second day of the Zagreb Grand Prix.
Medal: Japan and Canada in the lead
Canada joins Japan at the top of the medal tablebut the Japanese team is officially in first place by virtue of an extra bronze.
With a gold (Manuel Lombardo) and a silver (Matteo Piras, on the first day), good 5th place for Italy.
Beyond Japan and Canada, only France and Azerbaijan precede it.
Sunday, third and final day of the Zagreb Grand Prix 2022.
Three male titles (-90, -100 and +100) and two female titles (-78 and +78) will be awarded.
