“We want triple pack!” – Judo Austria

Austria can hope for three medals on the second day of the Upper Austria Judo Grand Prix in the TipsArena in Linz. Olympic and World Cup bronze medalist Shamil Borchashvili (-81/LZ Multikraft Wels/OÖ/seeded number 1) is the clear favorite going into the final for gold (12th fight after 5 p.m. – live on ORF SPORT +) against Mykhailo Svidrak (UKR ). The two have never met on the world tour before. The 22-year-old Ukrainian, 120th in the world rankings, defeated Shamil’s younger brother Wachid in the semifinals and thus prevented the long-awaited first brother duel (in an official competition). Wachid (-81/LZ Multikraft Wels/OÖ/3) meets Dimitri Gochilaidze (GEO/10th fight) in the final for third place. Magdalena Krssakova (-63/JC Sirvan/W, 2nd fight) is also fighting for bronze – the 29-year-old from Vienna is up against Prisca Awiti Alcaraz (MEX). Host Austria is the only one of the 73 nations represented in today’s final block with three athletes – ahead of the judo superpowers Japan, Georgia and Moldova (2 each).

In his first fight against Aurelien Bonferroni (SUI), Shamil Borchashvili had to fear for almost 7 minutes for promotion, in the end the 27-year-old Welser prevailed with Ippon. With victories against Alibar Mukyshev (KAZ), Victor Sterpu (MDA) and José Maria Mendiola Izquieta (ESP), the top seeded local hero fought his way through to the final. The disappointment that his younger brother was not waiting there was clearly visible to the world number nine.

“We can be absolutely satisfied – I hope that we will end up with three medals,” said Judo Austria head coach Yvonne Snir-Bönisch. “Shamil took some time to find his rhythm. But in the final he is the clear favorite to win on paper. Too bad that Wachid was briefly inattentive in the semifinals. The brother duel would have been possible. This entry into the final block is extremely important for Magda, she has been waiting for an international sense of achievement for over a year, since finishing 7th at the European Championships in Sofia.”