First day of competition that goes to archive with some good placements but without podiums for Italy in Almada in Grand Prix Portogallo 2022, first seasonal tournament of the World Tour of judo (and first competition with the new IJF regulation in force). Giovanni Pantano he was the only blue to fight in today’s Final Block, however losing his final and having to settle for a fifth place in the category up to 60 kg.
The 24 year old Sicilian went very close to his second podium in the international senior circuit, brilliantly reaching the semifinals (ippon to the Israeli Adam Jazan and the Hungarian David Naji, waza-ari to the Mongolian Sumiyabazar Enkhtaivan) before losing with great regrets both against the Korean Harim Lee – later winner of the tournament – and against the Mongolian Tsogt- Ochir Byambajav.
In the same category, there is regret for theelimination in the first round of Biagio D’Angelo, beaten by the Swiss Lionel Schwander for hansoku make (bridge) with 50 ″ from the end while he was ahead of a waza-ari in the score.
Judo, Grand Prix Portugal 2022: first tournament with the new regulation. Parlati and Bellandi move up in category
Best career result in the World Tour for the 26-year-old from Rome Miriam Boi, who overcame the emerging Kosovar Flaka Loxha (hansoku make at the Golden Score) in the first round before giving way to the strong Dutch Pleuni Cornelisse (ippon). Afterwards, to the repechage, the reigning Italian champion of 57 kg got a waza-ari advantage in the last 15 ″ regulation, being defeated by ippon at the end of the South Korean Kim Jaeryeong.
Finally, a good debut in the major circuit for the very young class of 2003 Asia Advanced (world junior bronze in office), seventh classified in the 48 kg with a success against the Spanish Mireia Lapuerta Comas (disqualified for an illegal technique) and two honorable defeats against the Portuguese hostess n.1 of the seeding Catarina Costa (ippon) and the Belgian Ellen Salens (waza-ari at the Golden Score ).
Among the other categories, the triumph of the Kosovar should be noted Distria Krasniqi, new opponent of the blue Odette Giuffrida in the 52 kg towards Paris 2024 after having graduated Olympic champion in Tokyo in the 48 kg.
Below is the summary of the podiums of the first day of the 2022 judo Grand Prix Portugal:
-48 kg F
1 Coast (Per)
2 Lee Hyekyeong (Kor)
3 Beres (Fra) e Vieu (Fra)
-52 kg F
1 Krasniqi (Kos)
2 Puljiz (Cro)
3 Kocher (Sui) and Diogo (Por)
-57 kg F
1 Silva (Bra)
2 Cornelisse (Ned)
3 Monteiro (Por) and Eunsong Park (Kor)
-60 kg M
1 Harim Lee (Cor)
2 Aghayev (Aze)
3 Nakamura (Jpn) and Byambajav (Mgl)
-66 kg M
1 Vieru (Mda)
2 Waizenegger (Sui)
3 Iadov (Ukr) e Baul An (Kor)
Photo: IJF
