For most, the pick of the day in the -48kg was Tara BABULFATH (SWE). Already having transitioned on to the senior circuit and claiming IJF World Tour medals, the 18 year old went on to claim an Olympic bronze in Paris this year. However her return to the tatami after a short suspension was anything but easy. Especially her semi final against Asia AVANZATO (ITA). The two-time Junior World medallist gave her a run for her money, 10 minutes of contest time to be exact. It took this long for Babulfath to find an answer for her very active and tactical opponent, but eventually it was a sasae tsuri komi ashi that sent the Swedish Olympian to the final. Though Avanzato missed out on her final place, team mate Giulia GHIGLIONE was more fortunate, using a combination of uchi mata and o uchi gari, switching direction caught her opponent, Gemma Maria GOMEZ ANTONA (ESP) by surprise, an ippon win.
The story of the day, ‘Jakub KUROWSKI’. There were already naturally high expectations for the 17 year-old, having won a Cadet European silver and World bronze medal this year before becoming the youngest to win the Senior Poland National Championships recently. For some it may have been pressure but it seemed Kurowski thrived, taking himself all the way to the -60kg final, defeating Josef TOMANEK (SVK), first by countering an attack, but finishing with a leg swiping tani otoshi. The chants throughout the stadium were sensational, from family, friends, team mates and visitors alike! Finally he will meet Huseyn ALLAHYAROV (AZE) who quickly defeated Luis BARROSO LOPEZ (ESP), anticipating a sumi gaeshi movement from last year’s silver medallist, he simply took control, and stepped in to the attack, using te waza to win his place in the final.
Top seed Aydan VALIYEVA (AZE) has had success in prime events and as she continues to move on to the senior circuit, she is gaining more and more experience. Her performance today in Pila demonstrates that, and in the -52kg semi final against KELLER Rebeka (HUN), she threw off the grip with o uchi gari to score ippon and take her place in the final. There she will face the number two seed, Ayumi LEIVA SANCHEZ (ESP), Grand Slam and Grand Prix medallist this year. It took two attempts, one at 20 seconds and again as clock counted down, but her low o uchi gari brought her the win against Erza MUMINOVIQ (KOS) and a chance at the title.
Federico NINFO (ITA) took the first place in the -66kg category final, defeating Eran FIKS (ISR) in the quarter final, and then Boyan YOTOV (BUL) in the semi. It was a winding ippon seoi nage that put the waza ari on the board for Ninfo that Yotov was simply unable to recover from. There was hope for an all-Italian final as next up was Giuseppe DE TULLIO, who faced 2023 Junior European champion, Tengo ZIRAKASHVILI (GEO). Both athletes gave an incredible performance, but it was Tullio that started the ball rolling, countering a drop seoi nage attempt from Zirakashvili. Not long after, the Georgian athlete levelled the playing field with o uchi gari, which took the pair three minutes deep in golden score before De Tullio took the win with a swift drop seoi nage.
In the -57kg category, we will see a rematch of the Junior European final between the eventual champion, Fidan ALIZADA (AZE) and silver medallist, Nino LOLADZE (GEO).
Loladze was first to take her place in the final, after first exchange wins in her earlier rounds, she was tested in the semi final by Spain’s, Marta GARCIA MARTIN. A counter by Loladze scored first, but Garcia evened with o uchi gari with less than a minute left on the clock. Angered by her error, the Georgian athlete found herself refuelled and countered a drop seoi nage by Garcia for the win. Alizada was up next, facing Laura KALLINGER (AUT). Both had given convincing performances throughout the day, but Alizada appeared the hungrier of the two, looking for another European title.
SZABO Aron (HUN) gave a great performance against 2023 Junior European Champion and Grand Slam winner, Giorgi TERASHVILI (GEO), ensuring that his opponent could not get in close quarters to execute his judo. Then with just over a minute left on the clock, Szabo attacked, turning his back on his opponent with a weak grip and was over rolled as a result. As he chased down the score, Terashvili really had to put in a top defensive performance and found his place in the final, another title on the horizon. Hungary had yet another chance for a finalist, this time, Zagreb Grand Prix winner, SZEGEDI Daniel. It ended with a gripping infringement and a third shido for Azerbaijan’s Rufat SHOVLATOV.
Only last week, Laura VAZQUEZ FERNANDEZ (ESP) won the Rome European Open and has continued on her quest for glory in Pila. The final was tough against Florentina IVANESCU (ROU), but Vazquez was on form and used the area edge to lure her opponent, turning against her before switching for a perfectly timed ko uchi gari. On the other side of the draw, Alessia CORRAO (BEL) made her final against Martyna GLUBIAK (POL) look effortless, driving her opponent over with a huge hip entry but rather than a grip around the waist for o goshi she kept a controlling grip down the back to guide the head.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen