The curtain fell on the morning session of the second day gods 2022 World Judo Championships. On the tatami of the Humo Arena in Tashkent (Uzbekistan)the meetings valid for the qualification were held Final Block (starts at 2.00 pm) for the following weight categories: 52 kg for women and 66 kg for men. Four Azzurri responded to the call: Odette Giuffrida and Martina Castagnola (52), Matteo Piars and Elios Manzi (66).
-66 kg
Manzi, European bronze in charge, showed all his talent and will play the bronze medal in the Final against the Korean Baul An. In the first two matches the Italian judoka respected the predictions, defeating the Bulgarian first Bozhidar Temelkov per waza-ari-awasete-ippon e poi lo zambiano Steven Mungandu for ippon. In the second round there was the strong Mongolian to face Baskhuu Yondonperenlei and very good the blue with a waza-ari to prevail in this challenge, even if burdened by two shido. Unfortunately, the crossing with the Olympic champion Hifumi Abe it turned out to be “lethal” since the blue suffered the overturning of the Japanese and was forced to go to the repechage. In this cross, against the Ukrainian Bogdan Iadova fantastic hold gave him success (ippon). No wayinstead, for the other blue Pirasbeaten with the ippon by the Kazakh Gusman Kyrgybayev.
In this category, everyone was waiting the Japanese head to head between the champion Abe and Joshiro Maruyama, with the latter not seeded having never competed in 2022. In the end, the draw did not create the basis for a cross before the Final for the gold which in fact will be between the two Japanese. Abe prevailed for waza-ari against the Moldovan Denis Vieru (world No. 1), while Maruyama prevailed against An, with the South Korean penalized for an irregular move. Vieru, to complete the picture, will play the bronze in the other match against the Georgian Vazha Margvelashvili.
2022 World Judo Calendar today: schedule Friday 7 October, program, TV, streaming, Italians competing
-52 kg
A category that confirmed a high level from a qualitative point of view among women. Unfortunately none of the blue will be in the game for the medals. Giuffrida, twice on the Olympic podium and European gold in 2020, did not arrive in great conditions at this world championship. We are speaking, in fact, of a season conditioned by some injuries and physical problems that have kept her away from competitions for five months.
Good for the blue to prevail against the Vietnamese Thuy Nguyen (three shido) and against Algerian Faiza Aissahine (projection and back by textbook, with the ippon). In the round of 16 it was already known that it would be tough since the crossing with the phenomenal Kosovar was expected Krasniqi District (Olympic gold in office in the -48 kg). In a bit of trouble, Odette then had to collect the defeat by penalty, since a hold of her was considered irregular by the judges.
Speaking of the draw, Castagnola had also been unlucky which had to face the Spanish fort Lopez Sheriff. The Italian fought hard, but then was forced to surrender to the Golden Score after 3’15 ”for ippon. A meeting also conditioned by a head injury of the Spaniard who, however, managed to complete the confrontation.
In this weight category will be the Japanese Utah Abe and the British Chelsie Giles to compete for gold. The Japanese is the favorite to climb the top step and her path confirmed this with the success in the semifinal against her most qualified rival, the French and Amandine Buchard, among the few to have beaten it internationally. This time there was no reply and Abe showed off all his technique, with a double waza-ari, compared to the only one of the transalpina. The challenger, therefore, will be Giles who has imposed himself against Krasniqi at the Golden Score for waza-ari. As a result, we will see the Kosovar face the Mongolian Bishrelt for bronze like the French Buchard opposed to the Israeli Primo.
Photo: IJF
