It might appear that on account of the super accomplishments within the Paris Olympic Video games, the native crowds in Azerbaijan had been able to pack out the Nationwide Gymnastics Enviornment on day one of many Baku Grand Slam 2025.
First up had been the -48kg ladies, and because the seeding predicted, we noticed an Olympic semi last rematch between TSUNODA Natsumi (JPN) and Tara BABULFATH (SWE). Sadly for the younger Swedish athlete, it was virtually a reproduction contest and he or she picked up a 3rd shido for passivity, nonetheless she walked away with a silver medal in Baku.
Eva PEREZ SOLER (ESP) took the primary bronze medal towards Tugce BEDER (TUR) with a beautiful sumi gaeshi, including her first IJF World Tour medal to her assortment and Andrea STOJADINOV (SRB) took the second with a driving seoi otoshi towards Giulia GHIGLIONE (ITA).
Although the group had been roaring for dwelling favorite, Balabay AGHAYEV (AZE), he was caught proper out of the gate by Jorre VERSTRAETEN (BEL) within the first of the -60kg bronze medal contests, with what might solely be described as a devastating ko soto gake, an unmistakable and unavoidable ippon. Azerbaijan had a second likelihood at a bronze with Ahmad YUSIFOV, however he delved in to golden rating towards Dilshot KHALMATOV (UKR) which was finally selected shidos in favour of Yusifov.
Following a profitable day in Paris, claiming the bronze medal within the -52kg class, Ayumi LEIVA SANCHEZ (ESP) was in search of one other medal, this time towards Nikolina NISAVIC (SRB), the present Junior European Champion. For the primary half of the competition, Leiva was dominating and got here near scoring on quite a few event, but it surely wasn’t till the pair headed in to the ultimate 30 seconds did she give you the win, a small ko soto took Nisavic off steadiness and Leiva drove backwards, scoring ippon.
Many had been welcoming ABE Uta (JPN) again to the tatami after her Olympic catastrophe, however it’s all up to now now and he or she is on the hunt as soon as once more. Assembly Abe within the last was Mascha BALLHAUS (GER), who took a few minutes to essentially discover her footing towards her Japanese opponent. Ballhaus gave an excellent struggle however within the dying seconds, Abe succeeded in ne waza to take the gold medal in Baku.
It was a real battle for bronze within the -66kg class between Rufat ALESKEROV (IJF) and Ivan CHERNYKH (IJF), there was no scarcity of leisure, with each judoka in search of the large throws, however they had been equally pretty much as good at escaping. Then solely 9 seconds in to golden rating, waza ari and the medal was claimed by Chernykh with a fantastic change of course, feigning a seoi nage earlier than switching to ko uchi gari. Once more there was a chance for Azerbaijan so as to add a medal to the crew’s tally from Elshan ASADOV, challenged by Azizbek ORTIKOV (UZB). After seven minutes of contest time, and so many shut calls, Ortikov picked up a 3rd shido which despatched the group wild with delight.
Finalising day one within the Baku Grand Slam, the -57kg ladies assured Europe a medal within the first bronze medal contest between Veronica TONIOLO (ITA) and Marica PERISIC (SRB). It was a good face to face, and ran in to golden rating, the decider was a 3rd shido to Toniolo, awarding Perisic the medal. Following in her sister’s success, Seija BALLHAUS (GER) went on to take the second of the -57kg bronze medals, although she was thrown by Jessica LIMA (BRA), Lima was unable to handle the competition and fell underneath the stress, accumulating three shidos.
Lots extra motion might be coming within the subsequent two days so tune in to JudoTV.com for all of the contests!
Photograph: Emanuele Di Feliciantonio (IJF)
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
Share
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
E-Mail
