The brief blackout during the preliminary rounds on the third day of the Hungary World Judo Masters in Budapest (HUN) was emblematic of the performances of some of Europe’s top stars. Double Olympic Champion Lukáš Krpálek (CZE), former world champion Anna-Maria Wagner (GER) as well as top-seeds Alice Bellandi (ITA) and Raz Hershko (ISR) were among those who went out after their opening bouts.
One of those who catapulted out of obscurity into the spotlight instead is Finland’s Martti Puumalainen, who knocked out defending Masters Champion Tatsuru Saito (JPN/4) in the semi-finals and stormed into his first Judo World Tour final, at the Masters of all places. There, world-ranked number one Temur Rakhimov (TJK) aims to prevent, that the Finn shines the brightest in +100 on the final day of Hungary World Judo Masters.
Judoka
Author: EJU Media