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

Private Ski Butlers, Live-in Chefs And Rare Cigars: Inside Switzerlands Ultra-luxury Travel Boom

American travellers have visited Switzerland in record numbers, leading to a surge in overnight stays. Read more

From Oscar Winners To Blockbusters: What Are The Worlds Most Cinematic Destinations?

While New York and London lead the way, Madrid and Argentina surprisingly rank high as popular filming locations. Read more

Bare All Or Be Gone: Why Swimsuits Could Soon Be Banned From German Nudist Beaches

While naturism dates to the 19th century in Germany, it is falling out of favour with young generations today. Read more

Festivals, Island Sun And City Breaks: Where To Travel In Europe This Spring

From Amsterdam’s raucous King’s Day to Corfu’s Garden Festival, spring in Europe is full of unforgettable events. Read more

Illegal Hotels, Pools And Hot Tubs: Santorinis Building Crimes Are A Disaster Waiting To Happen

Authorities have released details of dozens of illegal buildings on the Greek island of Santorini, which seismologists s... Read more

Greenlands Big Tourism Push: Why The Worlds Largest Island Wants More Visitors

Icebergs the size of skyscrapers and ancient glaciers: The wonders of Greenland are becoming easier to reach than ever. Read more