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Judo: the Portuguese Grand Prix opens the ball for 2023

The Portuguese Grand Prix, in Almada, near Lisbon, opened the 2023 season of the Word Judo Tour this Friday. The spectators were there to watch this first day of competition.

In -48 kg, in a 100% Kazakh final, Abiba Abuzhakynova won against her compatriot Galiya Tynbayeva thanks to a decisive waza-ari. At the end of the fight, the two athletes displayed their friendship.

International Judo Federation Director General Vlad Marinescu presented the medals.

Four French on the podium

In -60 kg, the young Japanese Yamato Fukuda won the final for his first appearance in a Grand Prix. He beat the experienced Spaniard Francisco Garrigos with an excellent transition to floor work.

The French Cédric Revol and Luka Mkheidze, back to competition since his rupture of the cruciate ligament of the right knee last March, climb on the third step of the podium. The medals were presented by IJF International Relations Director Juan Carlos Barcos.

“This victory gives me confidence but it also means that I will now compete all over the world and represent Japan, said Yamato Fukuda. It gives me even more motivation, I will have to work hard to be at the level.”

In -52 kg, the British Chelsie Giles, Olympic and world medalist, starts the year 2023 on the hats. The world number 1 ended a perfect day by winning the final against Spain’s Estrella Lopez Sheriff.

Frenchwoman Julie Weill dit Morey took bronze. IJF Events Director Lisa Allan presented the medals.

“It’s so good to get a medal in every competition, rejoiced Chelsie Gilles. But I didn’t get that many gold medals as a senior, so I’m very happy, especially since it’s the first competition of the year.”

In -66 kg, the Uzbek Mukhriddin Tilovov surprised the former South Korean world champion Baul An in the final. His trainer, the Greek legend Ilias Iliadis was in heaven.

Frenchman Daikii Bouba won bronze. The medals were presented by IJF Refereeing Director Armen Bagdasarov.

In -57 kg South Korean Mimi Huh won the final against the current Brazilian world champion Rafaela Silva with determination. A victory celebrated with his coach.

IJF Refereeing Supervisor Neil Adams presented the medals.

The public also had the opportunity to appreciate the quality of the judo offered by the Portuguese team. The young local judokas were able to demonstrate that this sport had a bright future in Portugal. The next two days of competition in Almada promise to be exciting.

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