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Dry spell over! – Judo Austria

Michaela Polleres (-70/JC Wimpassing/Lower Austria) took third place on the second day of the Grand Slam tournament in Baku (AZE, 366 judoka from 61 nations) and prevailed in the fight for bronze against Hilde Jager from the Netherlands. For the 25-year-old from Lower Austria it was the first Grand Slam podium in more than two years (October 2020, Budapest, also 3rd place).

The beginning went as planned: Michaela Polleres, Olympic silver medalist and third at the 2021 World Championships, fought her way into the quarter-finals with Ippon victories against Emilie Sook (DEN) and Anna Bernholm (SWE). There, the 25-year-old conceded the third Shido in the golden score after 4:50 minutes against Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE), most recently winner of the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi, and was disqualified. “This defeat was avoidable, Michi didn’t show her best side,” commented sporting director Markus Moser. ÖJV head coach Yvonne Bönisch was also penalized (after violent interventions) and had to leave the coaching box at the edge of the mat prematurely.

Michaela Polleres was all the more confident in the repechage round in the Ippon victory against Vice World Champion Lara Cvjetko (CRO/2, fight time: 2:28 min., 2 Waza-ari ratings). Hilde Jager, 24, from the Netherlands, an old acquaintance, was waiting in the final block. The two know each other from junior days. In the head-to-head, Polleres led 4-1, the last duel of course dated from 2018. The fight was tactically challenging, the Dutchwoman dominated in the grip fight. The Lower Austrian conceded two Shidos relatively quickly and fought with her back to the wall. In the golden score she was able to win the duel with an arm lock technique.

“Michi found it difficult to counteract Jager’s unconventional style, but fought hard. It was definitely another step forward. All’s well that ends well. The bottom line is that Michi is back on the podium after a difficult year with injuries and illnesses. The form curve for the Masters in December in Jerusalem is right,” commented head coach Yvonne Bönisch from the stands. The German was suspended for the final fight, the coaching was taken over by national coach Robert Krawczyk. Bönisch commented on his own punishment: “The 3rd Shido for Michi – in the quarter-final fight – was taken back by my intervention. I consciously accepted the reprimand.”

3rd place brings Polleres 500 world ranking and 250 Olympic qualification points.

On Sunday, the 3rd and last day of competition in Baku, Wachid Borchashvili (-90/LZ Multikraft Wels/OÖ), Laurin Böhler (-100/LZ Hohenems/V) and Daniel Allerstorfer (+100/UJZ Mühlviertel/OÖ) still three ÖJV participants at the start. Laurin Böhler from Vorarlberg celebrates a comeback at IJF Grand Slam level after a 2-year injury break.

Judo World Tour, Grand Slam Baku (AZE, November 4th – 6th), 2nd day of competition, women, -70 kg (34 starters), final score, 1st Sanne Van Dijke (NED/1, Ippon victory in the Final after 1:15 minutes), 2nd Gabriella Willems (BEL/7), 3rd Michaela Polleres (AUT/3) and Elvismar Rodriguez (VEN, Ippon victory against Elisavet Teltsidou/GRE/6).

Michaela Polleres defeated Emilie Sook (DEN) and Anna Bernholm (SWE/1st win in 4th duel) in the preliminary round, in the quarterfinals there was a disqualification defeat against Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE). In the consolation round, the ÖJV figurehead won against Vice World Champion Lara Cvjetko (CRO) after 2:28 min. with ippon, in the fight for bronze there was an ippon after Ude-garami (after a total of 6:24 min.) in the golden score (after a total of 6:24 min. arm lever) – thus rank 3.

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