Zagreb Judo Grand Prix showcases young judoka talents

Day two of the Zagreb Grand Prix opened with a display of local judo talent presenting an impressive kata demonstration and a group performing the Croatian National Anthem.

At -63kg, Japan’s Kirari Yamaguchi used ashi-waza to score waza-ari against France’s Manon Deketer and followed that up with a hold down for waza-ari-awasete-ippon to earn her first Grand Prix gold.

IJF President Marius Vizer awarded the medals.

Hungary’s Daniel Szegedi at -73kg took his first World Judo Tour medal, and it was gold. The young athlete’s magnificent ippon brought him immense joy.

Awarding the medals was IJF Director General Vlad Marinescu.

“I really like to fight here in Croatia, I have a lot of good memories. My first European Cup tour when I was a cadet I won in here Zagreb, it was a really memorable moment and yeah I could came on the top again so yeah it’s really really important for me and this is really happy I’m about it," said Szegedi.

At -70kg, Sanne Vermeer of the Netherlands was a waza-ari down in the final but managed to come back and score ippon. A brilliant counterattack followed by a vice-like pin gave her her first Grand Prix gold since 2019.

The medals were awarded by Dr Sanda Corak, Education Director of the IJF.

“Well, I always feel like you haven’t lost until the time’s over so, I never want to go home with the feeling I could have done more, so even when I’m behind, I think, especially when I’m behind I want to just give it my all and then go full in, maybe sometimes be a bit chaotic but then if it works it works," said Vermeer.

At -81kg, Victor Sterpu earned the first Grand Prix gold of his career. Two waza-ari scores combined for the match-winning Ippon, a fantastic result for the Moldovan judoka.

Moldova National Judo Federation Vice President Victor Florescu awarded the medals.

Stay tuned for more judo action tomorrow, when the heavyweights will compete.