The second day of the Portuguese Judo Grand Prix brought with it the emergence of several young people willing to continue making this sport great.
Among them stood out the Dutch Joanne Van Lieshout, from the category of less than 63 kilos, who signed an incredible day thanks to a great footwork with which he won his first gold in a Grand Prix. Van Lieshout, 19, received his award from the mayor of Almada Inés de Medeiros.
“The first fight was a bit difficult for me,” confessed Van Lieshout. “But then I warmed up, the time was right and it worked.”
In less than 73 kilos, the passion of Uzbekistan was once again noted with Murodjon Yuldoshev’s fantastic ippon against Spaniard Salvador Cases Roca. For Yuldoshev it was also his first Grand Prix gold.
And tactical victory of the young Croatian Lara Cvjetko in the final of less than 70 kilos, in his case against the Hungarian Szabina Gercsak. Cvjetko’s, gold, is the second medal that Croatia has won in Portugal, after Ana’s silver Victoria Puljiz in less than 52.
Another win for Casse
Our man of the day hardly needs an introduction. This is the current world champion, the Belgian Matthias Casse, who showed his best judo throughout the day until reaching the final. There he had to face the Finn Oskari Makinen, which he ended up defeating with a powerful launch. Casse thus achieved what is his first gold in a Grand Prix.
The great Belgian judoka was satisfied with his judo after receiving the precious metal from the sports director of the International Judo Federation, Vladimir Barta. “I am very happy with the results and also with the judo that I have shown today,” admitted Casse. “It was a very good day, dynamic, with some very good pitches.”
There was also time for well-deserved tributes, like the one received by the Portuguese judo legend Telma Monteiro in which is his hometown, Almada. the mayor Inés de Medeiros was in charge of recognizing Monteiro’s enviable sports career before a grandstand that thanked his judoka for the way in which he has carried Almada’s name all over the world.
The Grand Prix of Portugal concludes this Sunday with the third and final day of combat.
