For judoka Michaela Polleres, her Masters victory in the class up to 70 kg weighs very heavily on Wednesday in Jerusalem. “The Masters is the most important tournament of the year with the World Cup – and in Israel there were actually even more top people at the start than last year at the Olympics in Tokyo, because not only one judoka per nation is allowed,” the Lower Austrian compared in a broadcast by the Austrian Judo Association (ÖJV) the success with their silver medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021.
“So for me this success is pretty much on the same level as Olympic silver, of course also because it’s gold this time. The moment I realized I had gold for sure was indescribable,” Polleres said. After more than four years, being able to hear the Austrian national anthem again on the World Tour level was pure goosebumps.
In the final fight against Marie Eva Gahie from France, she was confident of victory after equalizing with a Waza-ari: “I was just mentally stronger.” there had been setbacks at the beginning of the year. “I’m really happy that I finally found my top form again and was able to play to my potential,” Polleres also referred to third place in November at the Grand Slam in Baku.
Perfect end of the season for Polleres
Judoka Michaela Polleres won the weight class up to 70 kilograms at the Masters in Jerusalem.
Hegyi and Allerstorfer out in the round of 16
For Austria’s heavyweights Stephan Hegyi and Daniel Allerstorfer (+100 kg), on the other hand, the round of 16 ended in Jerusalem on Thursday. After his first round win against the Senegalese Mbagnick Ndiaye, Hegyi had to admit defeat to the Dutch European champion Jur Spijkers in the golden score with ippon.
For the 24-year-old Viennese it was the first time since his cruciate ligament rupture at the end of March. Allerstorfer first won against Canadian Marc Deschenes after a disqualification. The end came in round two against the world number 14. Ushangi Kokauri from Azerbaijan.
