European Success With An Uzbek Comeback

The second day of the Kazakhstan Barysy Grand Slam opened with a colourful ceremony featuring a range of cultural performances and remarks from the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, the IJF director general, and the president of the Kazakhstan Judo Federation.

ADVERTISEMENT

At 63kg, 22-year-old Croatian, Katarina Kristo faced Slovenian, 27-year-old Andreja Leski. Kristo managed to overcome the multiple World Medallist to win her first grand slam gold.

The medals were presented by Kazakhstan Minister of Tourism & Sport, Yermek Marzhikpayev.

Kristo welcomed the enthusiasm of the crowd.

''You can see that they love judo and they are not just sitting there. They are cheering you on, even if you are not from their country. When you score, they live that moment with you and I really love to fight here,'' Kristo said.

In the 73kg final, Italian judoka Manuel Lombardo took on neutral competitor, 21-year-old Danil Lavrentev.

Lombardo caught Lavrentev by surprise, throwing him with sode-tsurikomi-goshi just six seconds in to score waza-ari. He held on to secure his 4th grand slam gold.

His medal was awarded by Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister, Galymzhan Koishybayev.

Lombardo, 25, said his popularity among judo fans in Kazakhstan was a ''strange'' but ''good feeling''.

''I think I’m more popular in Kazakhstan than in Italy. I love Kazakhstan so it’s very nice to fight here and I'm very happy that the crowd enjoyed my judo,'' he said.

At 70kg, junior Tais Pina of Portugal put pressure on Croatian World Medallist, 22-year-old Lara Cvjetko. The 19-year-old capitalised, throwing Cvjetko for ippon with ura-nage, arriving firmly on the senior scene.

The medals were awarded by Kazakhstan Judo Federation President Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev.

The 81kg category final saw Sharofiddin Boltaboev's comeback, where the 28-year-old took on Germany's 27-year-old Timo Cavelius. The Uzbek judoka controlled the contest and threw with a massive ura-nage for waza-ari, sealing a strong victory.

He was awarded his medal by Samruk-Kazyna CEO Nurlan Zhakupov.

Galymzhan Koishybayev, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister, thanked the International Judo Federation for ''its trust in Kazakhstan to hold the ranking tournament for the Olympic Games in Paris''.

''Judo is rightfully considered as the one of the most popular and spectacular forms of martial arts. This sport has a broad development across the country. Today more than 150 000 people practise judo in Kazakhstan,'' he said.

The final day of the Grand Slam will be held on Sunday.

RECENT NEWS

In Paris, Tourists Increasingly Choose Cycling To Explore The City

On Paris's streets, bicycles are increasingly common, and tourists play a big part. Guided bike tours have boomed in rec... Read more

These Are Europes Best-value Cities For A Weekend Break - And Poland Dominates The Top Five

A new study has revealed the best-value European cities for a weekend away, with Polish destinations sweeping the top fi... Read more

Byway Launches Free Online Course To Help You Plan Out A Rail Trip Across Europe

The course covers things like how to choose the right Interrail pass and how to manage disruptions. Read more

Eurovision 2027: A Guide To Burgas, Bulgarias Sunny Seaside Host City

Burgas has been announced as the unexpected host of next year’s Eurovision. Here’s everything you need to know ahead... Read more

This Boutique Hotel In Lisbon Has An In-house Library, Rooftop Sunset Sessions And A Pillow Menu

Villa Dorothéa is designed as a private micro-neighbourhood within Lapa, threaded through with passageways that give it... Read more

Missed The Eclipse? Heres Where To Travel To See 2027s Eclipse Of The Century

Gibraltar, Marbella and Lampedusa all lie in the path of totality for the eclipse on 2 August, 2027. Read more