ZAGREB (CROATIA) – Twist on the third and final day of the Zagreb Grand Prix: with two gold medals won in extremis in the “heavyweights”, the Netherlands conquers the victory in Medal tablebypassing the last dive Japan and Canada, thanks to a greater number of placings (two fifths and one seventh place for the Dutch).
The two reigning European champions Michael Korrel and Jur Spijkers, respectively, in the -100 and +100 kg categories, give gold to the Netherlands.
The “specific” weight of Jur Spijkers
In the category over 100 kg of weight, Jur Spijkers (25 years old) – reigning European champion – defeated the Mongolian Tsetsebtsengel Odkhuu in the final. He decided the fast fall technique.
Bronze medals for Usanghi Kokauri (Azerbaijan) and Erik Abramov (Germany).
Yasuhiro Yamashita, member of the IJF Executive Committee and member of the IOC, presented the medals.
Micheal Korrel: with the head and with the feet
In the category under 100 kilograms, triumph for the other Dutch athlete Michael Korrel (28 years old): defeated the Georgian Ilia Sulamidze, with whom she had lost the last direct match: with a lightning-fast footwork. Korrel got the decisive waza-ari.
Korrel, the reigning European champion, on his way to the final, got rid of opponents of the highest level, such as the reigning world champion, Spaniard Nikoloz Sherazadishvili.
The medal was given to him by Skander will notSports Director of the IJF.
Third place ex aequo for the Swiss Daniel Eich and for the Pole Piotr Kuczera.
Gviniashvili … in seventh heaven
In the -90 kg men, the 26-year-old Georgian wins Beka Gviniashvili (this is his seventh success in a round of the Grand Prix, 26th medal in the IJF World Tour !!!), outclassing the Brazilian Rafael Macedo in the final.
Two decisive waza-ari scores, culminating in the final ippon.
Bronzes for the Japanese Kenta Nagasawa and for the German Eduard Tripper.
Doctor Laszlo TothVice President of the IJF and President of the EJU, presented the medals.
Natalie Powell: victory “on the ground” (with dedication)
Among women, English success in the -78 kg category, thanks to the expert Natalie Powell31 years old.
Silver for the Israeli Inbar Lanir, bronze for the Brazilian Mayra Aguiar and the Dutch Natascha Ausma.
In the final with Inbar Lanir (world number 3 in the category), Natalie Powell prevailed thanks to a fantastic and wazaground fighting, and a strangulation.
With regular podium appearances, Powell is a mainstay in the -78kg category, but was thrilled to clinch her first gold in over two years.
With a special dedication.
The medals were presented by Sanda Corak, former great Yugoslav champion, IJF didactic director and president of the Croatian Judo Federation.
Raz Hershko: Tactics is everything
In the maximum female category, +78 kg, victory for the 24-year-old Israeli Raz Hershkowho in the final defeated the Serbian Milica Zabic.
Third place for the semifinalists Lea Fontaine (France) and Adiyasuren Amarsaikhan (Mongolia).
The medals were awarded by Armen Bagdasarovchief referee of the IJF.
Medal table: Holland wins, Italy slips to 8th place
Last day with a dry mouth for the hosts of Croatia and also for the blue expedition, which slips from 5th to 8th place.
The first eight positions of the medal table:
- Holland (two golds and two bronzes)
- Japan (two golds and two bronzes),
- Canada (two golds)
- Georgia (one gold, two silvers, two bronzes)
- Israel (one gold, one silver, one bronze)
- France (one gold, one silver, one bronze)
- Azerbaijan (one gold, one silver and one bronze)
- Italy (gold with Manuel Lombardo in -73 and silver with ** Matteo Piras ** in -66).
Followed by Croatia, Kazakhstan and Great Britain, all winners of a gold.
Great public success at the Zagreb Arena.
Excellent organization of the Croatian Judo Federation and the International Federation (IJF)
