In the -63kg category Magadlena KRSSAKOVA (AUT) won the gold medal to move her into the top 10 on the IJF World Ranking List. This was Krssakova’s third Grand Prix gold medal and her performance here was one that confirms her as a genuine contender in the category. Krssakova was quick to credit her team mates and coaching staff for what she described as a collective effort. That effort will continue for the next few months as she travels to Abu Dhabi, Tashkent and The Hague. There was a bronze medal too for Amy LIVESEY (GBR).
Having twice been on the podium as a bronze medallist, Michaela POLLERES (AUT) was delighted at being able to take top spot and the gold medal by defeating Gabriella WILLEMS (BEL) in the final of the -70kg category. Fresh out of the juniors, Polleres began the day ranked 17 on the IJF World Ranking List but will likely climb a couple of places to put her in a strong position at this stage of the Olympic qualification process. It is a position that the young Austrian admits to only having dreamed about a year ago. There was a bronze medal too for Daria PORGOZELEC (POL).
Day two of the Cancun Grand Prix proved a successful day for the travelling Europeans as they collected all four gold medals on offer. Tommy MACIAS (SWE) lived up to his billing as number one seed defeating Denis IARTCEV (RUS) in the final of the -73kg category. The Swedish fighter had lost on three previous occasions to the Russian but today found his best form to throw Iartcev for ippon with ko soto gari. This will go some small way to easing the disappointment felt by Macias at having gone out in round two of the World Championships in Baku last month.
In the -81kg category Sami CHOUCHI (BEL) struck gold with his first ever IJF World Tour medal. After a gruelling semi-final win over Alan KHUBETSOV (RUS) the Belgian maintained that intensity in the final against Victor PENALBER (BRA). That was until the Brazilian picked up an injury that changed the course of the contest, eventually leading to Penalber offering up little resistance to a jujigatame from which he submitted. There were bronze medals for Frank DE WIT (NED) and a first ever IJF World Tour medal for Tim GRAMKOW (GER).
In the -63kg category Magadlena KRSSAKOVA (AUT) won the gold medal to move her into the top 10 on the IJF World Ranking List. This was Krssakova’s third Grand Prix gold medal and her performance here was one that confirms her as a genuine contender in the category. Krssakova was quick to credit her team mates and coaching staff for what she described as a collective effort. That effort will continue for the next few months as she travels to Abu Dhabi, Tashkent and The Hague. There was a bronze medal too for Amy LIVESEY (GBR).
Having twice been on the podium as a bronze medallist, Michaela POLLERES (AUT) was delighted at being able to take top spot and the gold medal by defeating Gabriella WILLEMS (BEL) in the final of the -70kg category. Fresh out of the juniors, Polleres began the day ranked 17 on the IJF World Ranking List but will likely climb a couple of places to put her in a strong position at this stage of the Olympic qualification process. It is a position that the young Austrian admits to only having dreamed about a year ago. There was a bronze medal too for Daria PORGOZELEC (POL).
