Judo returns for the 3rd European Games 2023 in Krakow, Poland, but for this edition of the Games, various venues in the Malopolska region are hosting the events, providing more opportunities for spectators in the region. In the case of judo, we are located in Krynica. Also at these games will be the Judo-only Mixed Team Event, a day-long show featuring some of the best judokas in the world.
The French top seed got off to an impressive start as Margaux PINOT opened the match against Azerbaijan with a waza ari score and then a shime waza question. Azerbaijan’s senior team has been under pressure, almost on the heels of the cadet teams, had success for Odivelas last week at the European Cadet Championships where he topped the individual medal table with six golds and then took home the team trophy .
Of course, defeating the French team is not easy, and they gave everything they could, except for Maxime Gael, Njiab Hambo, Samah Hawa Camara and finally Josef Terhaek in the French team in the quarterfinals against Italy, with a crushing victory 4-0. Here they began to face strong opposition, Gennaro Pirelli (Italy) hitting Terhak and Odette Giuffrida beating Priscilla Gento 2:2. Then a 3:3 draw meant a clinch, and once again Giuffrida was eliminated, obviously a potentially big surprise for France. Gneto started getting shidos at the start of the Golden Score period and after five and a half minutes, picked up a third due to passivity, sending the defending champions into a replay. Now the question is: who will be the new owner?
Odette GIUFFRIDA (ITA) and Priscilla GNETO (FRA) © Gabe Gowan
During the Senior World Championships, Hasret Bozturk (TUR) was known as the top contender, defeating former Olympic and World Champion, Rafaela Silva (Brazil) and today she was the final element to lead her team to the quarterfinals against Georgia after a massive defeat of fourth seed and Olympic bronze medalist Israel. After just 11 seconds on the tatami, it was a great victory for the young representative of Turkey. In the quarterfinals against Georgia, the story changed, with a score of 1:1, Guram Toshishvili (GEO) had the opportunity to redeem the loss in the first round of the Tbilisi Grand Slam against Munir Ertog and after a physical fight , won the Georgian Olympic medalist silver medal and found submission by blocking arm. It ended up being a 4:1 victory after Lasha SHAVDATUASHVILI’s devastating strike.
Lasha Shavdatuashvili (Georgia) © Gabe Gowan Georgia team © Gabe Gowan
The teams of Austria and Germany are famous for their activity in the Bundesliga and from this they derive the experience and the ability to win and lose well. The European Games operate under the motto “We are United” and, as always, EJU is “More Judo than Sport”, a prime example coming from the +90kg category with Aaron Fara (Australia) and Eric Abramov (Germany). Even though the victory went to Abramov, Vara sincerely congratulated his opponent and playfully performed a soto knockout after Rei, a friendly moment saying “no hard feelings”.
Hungary looked to have a relatively easy win over hosts Poland to face Germany, but Kacper SZCZUROWSKI clawed it back, then jumped -52kg PUPP Reka (HUN) against -57kg Julia KOWALCZYK. The pair clocked the gold mark of 9 minutes 40 seconds, and with Chidos leading by a piece, the attacks kept coming. The positive performance made the arena stand up to support the home team but also this fierce battle. And the Pupp team gave victory to Hungary.
Goose Roland (-90kg) and Ceserlau Jennifer (+70kg) got the first two victories for the Hungarian team, then Eric Abramov (GER) turned the tide against SIPOCZ Richard with a great ashi waza and a fast break, Seija Il BALLHAUS followed suit with a win over European U23 champions, GYERTYAS Roza. With his third win by Jano Robow for Team Germany, the Hungarian team started to show concern and pressured GERCSAK Szabina to secure victory over Miriam BUTKEREIT for a draw. Gercsak worked hard to find a score and even more to get the third shido. The range was -57 kg. In an impressive 19 seconds, Ballhaus took his team to the semifinals with the Netherlands by scoring Uchi Mata.
Pauline Starck (Germany) sent her team to the quarterfinals against Hungary. © Carlo Ferreira
Seeded second, the Netherlands won 4-1 in the first round against Portugal. The Portuguese were somewhat of a surprise with 4-1 wins over Bulgaria and Greece considering it wasn’t the ‘A’ team that entered, however, their performance was strong enough for the quarter-finals. The Dutch team started with all its weapons and got a convincing victory, 4-0 against Portugal, with Pleuni CORNELISSE getting again the final victory in the -57kg category.
Pleuni Cornelisse (NL) © Carlo Ferreira
Italy, Georgia, Holland and Germany qualify for the semifinals.
Author: Tea Quinn
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2023-07-02 00:05:21
#SURPRISE #ITALY #TOP #SEED #FRANCE
