The new route of Manuel Lombardo in the category up to 73 kg opens with a second place in the Grand Slam of Antalya 2022, eight months after the disappointment for the missing Olympic medal in Tokyo 2021 in “his” 66 kg. The Piedmontese born in 1998 hit the podium goal on the first shot, confirming himself as a great talent in world judo, even if there is still some regret for the progress of a final that saw him decidedly favorite.
The product of Akiyama di Settimo Torinese began its journey today in the morning, prevailing for waza-ari over the Uzbek Shakhram Akhadov and for hansoku make (disqualification after three shido) over the Mongolian Uranbayar Odgerel, thus reaching the Canadian seeded (n.3 seeding) Arthur Margelidon in the round of 16. Probably this was precisely the best match of the day by Manuel, who almost always anticipated the intentions of his rival by forcing him to a too passive attitude (sanctioned by the referee with the shido) and causing him to be disqualified at the Golden Score.
Overcoming the most feared obstacle, Lombardo then went wild scoring a lightning fast ippon (after 25 ″) in the quarterfinals against the Bulgarian Mark Hristov and defeating the Spaniard Salvador Cases Roca in the semifinal for waza-ari. In the final act, however, the reigning 66 kg vice-world champion was surprised by a spectacular uchi mata by the young Georgian Giorgi Terashvili, who was able to celebrate his first Grand Slam triumph at the age of 19. The blue can still be satisfied with today’s performance, waiting to face an even more probative examination in a month at the European Championships in Sofia.
Judo, Grand Slam Antalya 2022: Odette Giuffrida still on the podium in the 52 kg! Pantano stops in the quarters in the 60 kg
Too bad for Antonio Espositoon his official return to the competition with the national team after a long post-surgery stop in the shoulder, which had to stop today in the round of 16 in the -81 kg against the quoted German Dominic Ressel (waza-ari at the Golden Score) after passing in order the Czech Jan Svoboda and the Moldovan Nicon Zaborosciuc.
The other two Italian judokas engaged today in Antalya were eliminated in the first round: Irene Pedrotti (70 kg) was defeated at the Golden Score by waza-ari by Dutch obstinate Hilde Jager (third in the Grand Slam Paris 2021), while Giacomo Gamba (81 kg) he lost by hansoku make after 2’30 ”overtime against German Tim Gramkow.
Below is the summary of the podiums of the second day of the judo Grand Slam Antalya 2022:
-63 kg F
1 Renshall (Gbr)
2 Ozbas (Hun)
3 Timo (By) and Krssakova (Aut)
-70 kg F
1 Marie Eve Gahie (Fra)
2 Graph (Aut)
3 Portela (Bra) and Pinot (Fra)
-73 kg M
1 Terashvili (Geo)
2 Lombard (Ita)
3 Pelivan (Mda) and Cases Roca (Spa)
-81 kg M
1 Schimidt (Bra)
2 Albayrak (Tour)
3 Boltaboev (Uzb) and Umayev (Bel)
Photo: IJF
