Great show and very interesting indications towards the Olympic season in the first historic edition of European Open Judo Championships, which took place today on the tatamis of the Palace of Youth and Sports in Pristina (Kosovo). This is a special continental event with only two weight categories, in this case the men’s -73 kg and the women’s -57 kg.
Italy immediately scored in this new event with Manuel Lombardothe only Italian registered, who put it around his neck silver medal also collecting a prize of 35 thousand euros. The Piedmontese talent was the protagonist of an exciting journey, defeating the Turkish Ejder Toktay and the young host Dardan Cena by ippon before prevailing by waza-ari (again in kata guruma) in the semi-final over the three-time Olympic medalist from Georgia Lasha Shavdatuashvili.
Judo, Manuel Lombardo is the only Italian player present at the first edition of the European Open
In the final the reigning -73 kg vice-world champion was unable to prevail over the local favorite Akil Gjakova, who surprised our standard bearer at the Golden Score with a counterattack in sumi gaeshi rated waza-ari. Bronze went to the other Kosovar Cena and to the Azerbaijani number 1 in the world ranking Hidayat Heydarov. Georgia triumphs in the women’s competition with Lipartelian ethersgood at overcoming the Israeli Timna Nelson Levy in the final act, while the third step of the podium was occupied by the Kosovar Olympic champions Distria Krasniqi and Nora Gjakova.
Photo: IJF
2023-12-16 20:48:54
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