ANTALYA (Türkiye) – An Italian gold medal on the second day of theAntalya Grand Slam of judo, in Turkey, sixth seasonal event of the IJF (International Judo Federation) World Tour and last appointment before the World Championships in Doha (May 7-14).
A sold out Antalya Spor Salonu, with hundreds of Turkish flags ready to fly.
-73 kg men: triumph of Manuel Lombardo
In the -73 kg men category, triumph for the blue Manuel Lombardowho in the final defeated – by disqualification (for placing his hand on the tatami) – the Mongolian Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir, reigning world champion and Olympic bronze medalist.
In the previous rounds, the 24-year-old judoka from Turin had obtained five consecutive victories by technical score (four ippon and a waza-ari) against the Kuwaiti Almutairi, the Austrian Gassner (match finished at the Golden Score, after only 14 seconds of extra time), the American Yonezuka, the Spanish Cases-Roca and, in the semifinals, the Azeri Heydarov, number 2 in the world.
With this success, Manuel Lombardo – European champion 2021 – gets his fifth victory on the world circuit and joins Odette Giuffrida as the most successful blue judoka ever.
Bronze medal for the Azerbaijani Hidayat Heydarov (defeated in the semifinal by Lombardo) and for the Ukrainian Vladyslav Kazimirov.
Medals awarded by Mohammed MeridjaIJF Director of Education and Coaching.
Eliminated the other blue John Espositodefeated by sum of penalties during the match with the Azerbaijani Osmanov.
-81 kg men: the return of Matthias Casse
Belgian judoka Matthias Casse he prevailed in the -81 kg category, defeating the Azeri Saeid Mollaei in the final. A challenge between two former world champions.
Bronzes for the two semi-finalists: the Canadian François Gauthier Drapeau and the French Alpha Oumar Dialo.
The Director General of the IJF, Vlad Marinescupresented the medals.
Out in the second round the blue Anthony Espositowho after beating the Ukrainian Manukian, was defeated by the Azerbaijani Tckaev at the Golden Score.
Nothing to do for Tiziano Falconebeaten by Slovenian Mecilosek.
-63 kg women: second Brazilian gold (with the eternal Ketley Quadros)
After the world champion Rafaela Lima, this time the gold medal for Brazil was conquered on Friday Ketleyn Quadroswho beat Israeli Inbal Shemesh in the final.
Ketleyn Quadros, who will turn 36 in October, is a veteran of the circuit: in 2008 she won the Olympic bronze medal at the Beijing Games!
Bronzes for the Canadian Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard and the Australian Katharina Haecker.
Moses Bridgepresident of the Judo Association of Israel, presented the medals.
-70 kg women: finally Japan!
We have to wait for the second day of the Antalya Grand Slam to find the first Japanese gold, conquered by Saki Niizoe in the -70 kg women category.
Silver for the Croatian Barbara Matić – reigning world champion, beaten in the final thanks to a makikomi by Saki Niizoe – and bronzes for the Israeli Maya Goshen and the Spanish Ai Tsunoda Roustant.
Medals awarded by Vladimir BartaIJF Chief Sports Director.
Medalist: France unreachable
France in the lead medal collection thanks to the four gold medals on the first day (today they settled for a bronze), second place for Brazil, with two gold medals. Followed by Belgium, Italy and Japan with one gold.
Heavyweights
Sunday 2 April, the last day of the Antalya Grand Slam: five “heavyweight” titles will be awarded.
