The second day of the Portugal Grand Prix 2022, first tournament of the season World Tour of judo, gives the scene to many young judokas.
The Dutch Joanne Van Lieshout (-63kg) had a memorable day, thanks to lightning-fast footwork that earned the 19-year-old her first Grand Prix gold.
Inês de Medeiros, mayor of the municipality of Almada, was present to deliver the medals.
“The first game I was struggling a bit, but after I came back, it was the right time and it worked,” says Van Lieshout.
In the category up to 73 kilograms, Uzbekistan celebrates one of its athletes.
Murodjon Yuldoshev scored a fantastic ippon against the Spaniard Cases Roca: also in this case the first tatami worth a Grand Prix gold for Yuldoshev.
The award was presented to him by José Manuel Constantino, President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee.
The young woman is under 70 kilograms Lara Cvjetko collected a tactical victory over Hungarian Szabina Gercsák, taking home the first Croatian gold of the year.
It is Colonel Stefan Marginean, head of the military commission of the International Judo Federation, to award the winner.
Our man of the day is the reigning world champion Matthias Casse of Belgium, who showed his dynamic judo all the way to the final.
In the final rush he faced the Finnish Makinen, who he defeated with an effective seoi-nage technique.
For Casse it is the first ever gold in the Grand Prix thanks to a confident performance that is typical of him.
The medal was presented by Vladimir Barta, sporting director of the IJF.
“I am very happy with the results and also with the judo I showed today – says Casse – it was a very dynamic day and I managed to do well”.
The mayor of the municipality of Almada Inês de Medeiros celebrated the Portuguese legend of judo Telma Monteiro in his hometown: a tribute in recognition of a sporting career, which gives great prestige to Almada and Portugal in the world and which crowns another incredible day of judo.
