The 2025 of international judo has reached the closing credits. On the tatamis of Tokyo Grand Slam (Japan) the last act of a year in which i hosts they puffed out their chests. The selection of the Rising Sun, in fact, scored in the Japanese two-day match 11 victories and 37 athletes placed in the top-3 in 14 weight categories. A nice loot, but speaking of a battleship, it’s not surprising.
There were no podiums among the Italian ranks, but there were some placings that deserve attention. The reference is to Irene Pedrotti and Tiziano Falconecompeting in the women’s -70 kg and men’s -90 kg respectively. The Italian won against two rivals of excellent workmanship like the Portuguese Barbara Timo (yuko at the Golden Score) and the Swedish Ida Eriksson (waza-ari).
The Italian judoka then had to surrender to the Japanese Shiho Tanaka and Spanish style Ai Tsunoda Roustant after a long Golden Score in the final which put third place up for grabs. The 25-year-old Italian thus saw her first podium in a Slam postponed, recalling the two third places in the Grand Prix of Lima (Peru) and Zagreb (Croatia).
As for Falcone, you have to talk about the best result in your competitive journey. The 26 year old Roman prevailed against the Taiwanese Chung-Yuan Chenthe Brazilian Marcelo Fronckowiak and Bahraini Israpil Sagaipov again by technical score in regulation time, being stopped by the Japanese Sanshiro Murao in a close match. The challenge for the lowest step of the podium did not smile against the Georgian Giorgi Jabniashvili.
Also fair to mention Valerio Accogli (-66 kg) and Asya Tavano (+78 kg), who finished in seventh position and always found the Japanese blocking their path, and the elimination in the second round of Fabio Basile in -73 kg, after two very difficult years.
Worth a look
