The preliminary remaining on day one of many Rome European Open 2024 was between prime seed of the -63kg class, Natalia KROPSKA (POL) and Laura VAZQUEZ FERNANDEZ (ESP). Within the first change, Kropska shocked her opponent, scoring a waza ari. Following this, the pair spent a substantial amount of time in ne waza, as Vazquez was unable to maintain the leg out to even the rating or declare the ippon. Over one minute and half ticked by earlier than Vazquez secured her win, claiming her second continental open gold. Very not too long ago, she had fought her means in to the ultimate of the Sarajevo European Open however was compelled to accept silver, she made a transparent level she wouldn’t settle once more.
It was at all times going to be an uphill battle for Francesco SAMPINO (ITA) as he took on Artem LESIUK (UKR) for the -60kg gold, the latter a Grand Slam and Grand Prix medallist. Sampino is eight years his junior and remains to be a daily on the junior circuit, so no matter a win or loss, this was his greatest end result to this point. The teen was fuelled nevertheless and was initially given a waza ari rating that was later reconsidered, however he challenged Lesiuk and took him in to golden rating on this event, then after solely 15 additional seconds, Lesiuk threw with harai makikomi to win the competition.
There have been some months the place we’ve got not seen Giovanna SCOCCIMARRO (GER), after an understandably powerful interval, she has returned to competitors and within the remaining of the -70kg class, was examined by Irene PEDROTTI (ITA). It was a rating from Pedrotti within the first minute, a drop seoi nage caught Scoccimarro, which paired with an incredible defence and comfy transitioning in to ne waza turned a nightmare for the German athlete who was unable to discover a means in. With 34 seconds left on the clock, Pedrotti was nonetheless on the assault and claimed a second waza ari rating with a low o uchi gari. A primary win for Italy!
Recent off success within the European Championships of the Small States, Georgios BALARJISHVILI (CYP) was persevering with his successful streak in Rome in opposition to Francesco CARGNELUTTI (ITA). An preliminary rating got here from a tough fought for ura nage, however the contest felt removed from over. Although the pair continued a tricky face to face, it was Balajishvili that claimed the win, securing his opponent in osae komi for 10 seconds and including a gold to the medal desk within the -66kg class for Cyprus.
Shelley LUDFORD (GBR) has been making a gradual and regular comeback after a number of accidents and surgical procedures, and is efficiently coaching in judo alongside coaching to turn out to be a midwife. Within the Sarajevo European Open she was joyful to be again on the rostrum with a bronze medal, and this week went one step additional and in to the ultimate in opposition to Julie HOELTERHOFF (GER). Ultimately, Ludford nonetheless has yet one more place to climb for gold, as Hoelterhoff claimed the -78kg win in the long run, an preliminary rating got here from uchi mata, after which the successful method was ko uchi gari.
It was an all-Italian affair within the -73kg class, and now with a style of successful, Leonardo VALERIANI didn’t need to quit this contest to Luca RUBECA. In Prague, Valeriani blew his opponents away with some extremely ballistic judo, and he continued in the identical style in the present day, scoring first with swift ashi waza and concluding his Rome European Open win together with his signature deep and driving, drop morote seoi nage. For Valeriani, it was a special feeling that successful within the Prague European Open, having his mates and membership right here to help him was particular, having competed and educated right here for years, it was a cushty sensation.
One other to say a second continental open was Ruslana BULAVINA (UKR) within the +78kg class. In 2023, Bulavina succeeded in Tallinn, however up to now in 2024 was settling for bronze or silver. Right now was completely different for her, and competing in opposition to Maria HOELLWART (AUT) was a tricky feat, the robust gripping and defence was a tricky mixture for each to cope with. Ultimately nevertheless, it was a stretched ashi guruma from Bulavina that introduced her win within the Italian capital.
Ultimately, though Italy took the lion’s share of the medals, it was nice to see that 5 nations had been capable of declare gold, together with that of the small states.
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
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