On day one of the Prague European Open 2024, the tatami welcomed the lightweight men and heavyweight women to compete. It was a special event given its status of first continental open in the new Olympic cycle and with it brought some special athletes and spectacular judo.
It was a tough day for the top seeds, with five of the seven going out before the quarter final rounds. Only Anna Monta OLEK (GER/-78kg) and Florine SOULA (FRA/-70kg) managed to work their way to the semi final of their respective categories.
Olek was certainly on the radar for most today, not only as the top seed of the entire tournament, was WRL #12, with the next heavyweight man coming in at #30. Expectations were high for the Grand Slam and Grand Prix medallist, and she didn’t disappoint, demonstrating her medal-winning ne waza skills. Defeating Shaked AMIHAI (ISR) in the semi final means she will take on France’s Liz NGELEBEYA, WRL #61. Despite this position, Ngelebeya is a stark reminder of the depth of talent in this category from the French team, who gave a performance not too dissimilar to the icon that is Clarisse AGBEGNENOU, emanating both her confidence and gripping strategy!
Ngelebeya managed to counter an over reaching ko uchi gari attempt from Linda POLITI (ITA), and later outgripped her opponent, controlling Politi with a belt grip over the back, managing to secure the win with te waza.
Samira BOCK (GER) Kaila ISSOUFI (FRA) looked to over roll and instead rolled under to pull Bock over her opposite leg, but to anyone who hasn’t followed Bock before, she plays the long game. At no point did the German athlete become flustered and simply gaged her situation, adapted her grips and found her moment in ne waza, her support cheered as she used Issoufi’s arm as a lever to turn and then secure the hold for the twenty seconds needed to win her place in the -70kg final against Gioia VETTERLI (SUI). It was a gruelling semi final for Vetterli against Florine SOULA (FRA), going three and a half minutes in to golden score, but the Swiss athlete managed to find her way in ne waza.
Huseyn ALLAHYAROV (AZE) was the one to put down top seed, Richard VERGNES (FRA) in the quarter final, going on to face NAJI David (HUN) in the semi final. It was a dynamic contest between the -60kg men, and in the end it was a back and forth that decided their fate. First an uchi mata attempt from Allahyarov took both to the group, but Naji thought he could use this opportunity and pulled his opponent up to attack with tai otoshi, however this turned in to a delivery, the Azerbaijani planting himself to haul Naji in the air with ura nage. Happening in quick succession, it was one of the most exciting of the semi finals on day one.
Next up were Vincent LIMARE (FRA) and Roie ROSEN (ISR) which fell in a different fashion, the lightweight athletes ventured deep in to golden score, two shidos each, then a low o uchi gari was finally the deciding point from Rosen.
An all-Italian semi final was to decide the result of the -63kg category as Antonietta PALUMBO and Agenese ZUCCO went head to head. Though it felt like they had reached a stalemate, Zucco caught Palumbo with a sharp ko uchi gari and transitioned immediately in to ne waza, looking for the shime waza submission, which came relatively quickly. Zucco watched on as the next semi final took place between Gaetane DEBERDT (FRA) and Josie STEELE (GBR). Steele picked up two shidos in the first half the contest and struggled to find a way to defend against the onslaught of Gaetane DEBERDT (FRA), eventually a third shido was issued to the British athlete.
MATHE Bence (HUN) made a huge impact on the -66kg category as he defeated Canada’s Julien FRASCADORE in the opening round, but was tested in the semi final by junior world silver medallist, Eran FIKS (ISR). This year Fiks has made his move on to the senior circuit, managing a 5th place finish in the Zagreb Grand Prix, but was unable to escape a tight ko uchi gari from Mathe half way through the semi final. With Mathe continuing on his takeover, he will face the ballistic Rashad YELKIYEV (AZE). an exciting semi final against Federico NINFO (ITA) ensued, but it was Yelkiyev who finalised the result, scoring 11 seconds in to golden score.
It will be an all-French final in the +78kg category, the first semi final between Dounia NACER and Grace-Esther MIENANDI LAHOU, also both of France, was decided in the first 17 seconds. Unfortunately for Mienandi Lahou, she was disqualified was leaving a personal item inside her judogi, forgetting to remove before stepping on the tatami, a hard lesson to learn. Following this, Oceane DIARRASSOUBA (FRA) stepped on the mat meaning business, an enveloping ko soto against Alessia GIORDANO (ITA) scored waza ari and was enough to claim her place in the final.
It was a bittersweet situation for Team Ukraine, with Vladyslav KAZIMROV taking on Serhii NEBETOV for a place in the -73kg final. It was the latter that defeated top seed, Joshua GREEN (ISR) in the opening round, but this national rivalry went another four minis in to golden score before a third shido was issued to Nebetov. In the consecutive semi final, the pace was immediately set by Leonardo VALERIANI (ITA) who scored in 14 seconds with a deep morote seoi nage against Niels THIJSSEN (NED). Then, a minute later, with the same technique, sealed his spot in the -73kg final.
Author: Thea Cowen