There was plenty to look forward to on the opening day of the Conegliano European Open 2025, especially among the women’s divisions. From the very first contests, the quality of the line-up promised an exciting day of judo and it delivered.
The -63kg category drew a strong field, both in numbers and in talent. The line-up featured some of the sport’s biggest names, including double Olympic medallist and two-time Olympic team champion Sarah Léonie Cysique (FRA) and the 2024 world champion Joanne Van Lieshout (NED). Since the World Championships, where Cysique competed in her usual -57kg category, she has twice entered the -63kg division, first in Prague in September, and now in Conegliano. The final brought the two titans head-to-head in a showdown.
What could easily have been a Grand Slam final began at a measured pace. At 2:08, Van Lieshout struck first with a low morote-seoi-nage, earning yuko before swiftly transitioning into ne-waza. Cysique looked momentarily stunned but fought her way back into the contest. With just under a minute remaining, the French judoka responded in style, landing her trademark ashi-waza to level the score. Van Lieshout attempted another morote-seoi-nage, but this time Cysique was ready. With the clock expired, the contest moved into golden score. Only nine seconds in, Cysique launched a sharp standing seoi-nage which unbalanced her opponent. Van Lieshout reacted immediately with a low tsuri-komi-goshi, but Cysique countered beautifully, scoring waza-ari and sealing the victory.
The -70kg category provided one of the day’s biggest surprises. Belgium’s Lien Meeuwssen, ranked 189th in the world, produced the performance of her career. Unseeded, the 25-year-old made her way through each round with calm determination, earning louder applause with every victory. In the final, she faced Poland’s Aleksandra Kowalewska, last year’s U23 European bronze medallist. With 90 seconds remaining, Meeuwssen secured a strong tate-shiho-gatame, holding her opponent firmly for the full count. This marked her first European Open title, adding to the silver she earned in 2020.
The -78kg category was a French affair from start to finish. Morgane Rubiano, the number two seed, and her teammate Ilana Bouvier both impressed throughout the day to set up an all-French final. Rubiano took an early lead, scoring yuko within the first 30 seconds. Both judoka, aged 22, showed maturity and composure well beyond their years. At 2:35, Rubiano added another yuko before Bouvier responded with an impressive uchi-mata as she sought to close the gap. Bouvier pressed hard for the remainder of the contest, repeatedly attempting the same throw, but Rubiano’s tactical discipline held firm. Time expired, and Morgane Rubiano was crowned the -78kg champion.
The evening concluded with the +78kg final, featuring home favourite Erica Simonetti (ITA) against the experienced Anne Fatoumata M’Bairo (FRA). The Italian team erupted as Simonetti opened the scoring early with a perfectly timed ashi-waza for yuko. Penalties began to accumulate, two for the French fighter and one for the Italian, adding tension to the final minute. Simonetti continued to press forward, nearly securing osae-komi-waza before forcing M’Bairo into another mistake. A final penalty against the Frenchwoman sealed the result, giving Erica Simonetti a hard-fought victory and another gold for the hosts.
The second and final day of the Conegliano European Open 2025 will feature the remaining women’s categories: -48kg, -52kg, and -57kg. Watch all the action live on JudoTV.com.
Author: Szandra Szogedi