Canadian judoka Jessica Klimkait and François Gauthier-Drapeau claimed gold medals on Saturday at the Arena Zagreb during the second day of the Zagreb Grand Prix.
The tournament opened with a local kata demonstration alongside remarks from International Judo Federation general secretary Dr. Lisa Allan and Croatian Judo Federation president Dr. Sanda Corak, euronews reported.
In the women’s -63 kg category, former world champion Klimkait faced Slovenia’s Kaja Kajzer Zabkar. A late waza-ari scored by Klimkait secured the win seconds before the final buzzer.
Dr. Krešimir Šamija, representing the Prime Minister of Croatia, presented the medals for the division. Later in the program, the Canadian team added a second gold when Gauthier-Drapeau swept his opponent during the golden score period in the -81 kg final.
“François Gauthier-Drapeau… [provided] Canada its second gold medal of the day,” euronews noted regarding the sequence.
Georgia’s Giorgi Loladze and Ireland’s Joshua Green met in their first-ever Grand Prix final in the -73 kg division. Loladze took the title via a single yuko in a tightly contested match, receiving his medal from Georgian Ambassador Zaal Gogsadze.
In the -70 kg final, Brazil’s Nauana Silva defeated Poland’s Aleksandra Kowalewska to capture her first Grand Prix gold after securing four prior medals in the circuit. Zagreb city representative Krešimir Makvić presented the medals.
Croatia’s Iva Oberan also earned a bronze medal before the home crowd. Competition resumes Sunday with the heavyweight categories.
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