Judo, World Cup in Doha: Italy sets a record, fourth medal with Alice Bellandi

On the sixth day of the Judo World Cup, underway in Doha, Italy has hit a historic record thanks to Alice Bellandi. The athlete of the Fiamme Gialle sports group conquered the bronze medal in the 78 kg category, beating the Japanese Hamada, Olympic champion at the last Tokyo Games, in the final for third place. The blue won by hansoku-make, or by disqualification of her opponent following three penalties. A result that is still close to the 24-year-old from Brescia, who was aiming for the top step of the podium, as she declared in tears at the end of the match: “Next time gold,” he said to the camera immediately after winning the bronze (she had arrived in Qatar as number 1 in the international ranking). However, Alice writes a historical page of blue judo: for the first time the Italian national team wins 4 medals in a single edition of a World Cup, it had never happened before. Until now, Italy in judo had managed to win 3 medals in a World Cup at most: 3 medals in 1980 in New York in the first women’s World Cup, 3 also in Barcelona in 1991, then to follow 2 medals in the 1997 editions in Paris, 2007 in Rio de Janeiro and 2022 in Tashkent.

Bellandi: “I couldn’t go back empty-handed”

In the post-race interview Alice Bellandi does not hide her bitterness for the bronze, given that she is in a great state of form and was aiming straight for gold: “It wasn’t the medal I came to Doha for, I took part in this World Cup to win gold, but in judo, as in life, unexpected events can happen. However, I’m happy with the strength I had in getting up after the beating I suffered in the semifinal. it was a nightmare (defeat against Israeli Lanir, ndr). Then I thought that I could not go home empty handedsuffering has a meaning, I recovered in an hour and won the bronze against the Olympic champion”. This is the first medal in a senior World Cup for Alice (nicknamed the ‘Lioness of Italy’ for his city of origin, Brescia), firmly at the top of the ranking and projected towards the Paris 2024 Games. Saturday 13 May seventh day of the Judo World Championship in Qatar, in which the male and female heavyweights will fight, including our Asya Tavano: the finals live from 5pm on Sky Sport Arena.