There was a lot of success for team Croatia on the second day of the Zagreb Grand Prix 2024. Three bronze medals were earned across the four categories competing; -63kg, -73kg and -70kg.
Iva OBERAN in the -63kg category narrowly missed out on an Olympic opportunity this year, but has returned to the tour with her champion mindset, battling Inbal SHEMESH (ISR) for the bronze. Shemesh is a tough contender, and makes it very difficult for any one to attack, typically controlling the contest, however Oberan dominated on this occasion. Eventually, Shemesh picked up a third shido.
Next up was Robert KLACAR in the -73kg category. A whole day of stunning performances brought him to the bronze medal contests against (GEO) who is new to the IJF World Tour, and today, stood no chance, unable to find his footing in the contest. After numerous attempts, and a considered waza ari, the pair were even heading in to the final seconds, but with three seconds left on the clock, Klacar secured the win with a perfectly times seoi otoshi.
World silver medallist was likely somewhat disappointed to not finish on top of the podium and defend her 2023 result, however she wasn’t about to leave the Zagreb Arena empty handed. Initially, Cvjetko score waza ari with uchi mata, but struggled the further she delved in to the contest, picking up two shidos and then dealing with an unnecessary pressure. For a long time she managed the contest, then in the final minute, pulled out another scoring uchi mata.
The -63kg gold was awarded to Tokyo Grand Slam silver medallist, YAMAGUCHI Kirari (JPN) after she defeated Manon DEKETER (FRA), knocking her down with ko uchi before securing the osaekomi. In the -73kg category, it was a first Grand Prix gold for Hungary’s SZEGEDI Daniel, his first on the IJF World Tour in fact, and won his final against Giovanni ESPOSITO (ITA) convincingly. Szegedi anticipated and reacted at speed to counter Esposito.
Sanne VERMEER (NED) has a close call will Maya KOGAN (ISR) in the final of the -70kg category, the latter was on a roll, having defeated Cvjetko in the semi final, and then scoring against Vermeer early on in the contest with ko soto gake. Vermeer didn’t give up though and scored the wining ippon with uchi mata sukashi.
The last time Victor STERPU (MDA) managed to take his place on the podium was in the Zagreb Grand Prix 2021 where he claimed the silver medal, losing out the current Olympic Champion of the -73kg category, Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE). Sterpu made the decision to move to the -81kg weight class and has not been able to find the same success, until now. Looking settled at -81kg he made his way through the category to meet Gabriel FALCAO (BRA), and demonstrated ballistic power with a strong sumi gaeshi that scored the first waza ari. Strong gripping continued and eventually put him in a great position for a te waza finish, and the gold medal.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen