Lisa Grabner defended her title in the under-63-kilogram division at the Austrian Judo Championships in Oberwart, securing her third national crown in the senior category with a series of quick Ippon victories while competing without the presence of fellow club member Michi Polleres, who was preparing for the world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to a regional report published by meinbezirk.at.
Oberwart mats host 154 athletes from 40 clubs
The national tournament brought 154 competitors from 40 different clubs to the Burgenland venue. JC Wimpassing Sparkasse sent a contingent of six athletes to the championships, operating under the direction of head coach Adi Zeltner and Marlene Hunger, who recently completed her state coaching certification.
Lisa Grabner wins national title and technical award
Competing in the under-63kg category, Lisa Grabner won her early matches efficiently. She secured her third career senior national title by finishing her matches early via Ippon. Organizers also presented her with the technician’s award recognizing the day’s cleanest scoring throw.
Erik Grabner breaks through with silver in heavy men’s division
In the men’s under-81kg category, junior competitor Erik Grabner emerged as a surprise finalist after winning three bouts. In the title match, he faced national team member Magamed Borchashvilli and lost by the narrowest possible margin—a single Yuko score—in a bout that remained competitive until the final seconds. The silver medal marks his best result in the senior ranks following a bronze finish the previous year.
Wimpassing secures fifth place in the club standings
Oliver Scharner added a bronze medal in the over-100kg heavyweight division after dropping his opening match to world championship team member Movli Borchashvilli. Scharner rebounded through the repechage bracket, winning via hold-down Ippon before securing his medal match. Mike Zeltner reached the under-81kg bronze bout after three wins but finished fifth after dropping that contest via armlock following an early Wazaari score. Niklas Weitzbauer withdrew from the same division due to a rib injury sustained in his third match, and 17-year-old Alexander Vrabetz went winless in the under-90kg class. These combined results placed JC Wimpassing Sparkasse fifth in the overall club standings.
