Though they were the last men’s category to compete on day one of the La Nucia European Open 2025, the -73kg final was arguably one of the most anticipated as there was hope of gold from Anton SHUHALIEIEV (ESP). He was faced with a great opponent, Lucian BORS DUMITRESCU (ROU), but it seemed the Spanish representative had the greater will for gold. It was an initial score of ippon for Shuhalieiev, however it was reduced to waza ari, and it didn’t seem to shake him. In fact, it appeared to fuel him further, a ko uchi gari preceded a hard lesson in ne waza for Dumitrescu who was forced to tap and forfeit the gold medal.
I felt really calm today, I just took each contest one by one and didn’t concentrate or focus on the medal. I didn’t feel that it was an ippon score so I didn’t let myself celebrate, but in the end I’m so happy to win the medal, especially when I’ve been losing, it can really make you feel down, but now I’m on the top!
Bronze medals were won by Hans-Jorris AHIBO (FRA) and Mark HRISTOV (BUL). The latter had a sensational head to head with Brazil’s Vinicius ARDINA, both scoring waza ari in regular time before venturing in to a golden score battle, eventually it was a smooth uchi mata counter that won Hristo the medal. Niels THIJSSEN (NED) attacked Ahibo with ko uchi gari but landed on his knees, Ahibo saw the entry and managed a waza ari score from sumi gaeshi, though a somewhat unconventional execution!
The final of the -60kg category was off to a ballistic start between Ariel SHULMAN (ISR) and Daniel LEUTGEB (AUT). It was Schulman to take the big score first, a huge sumi gaeshi claiming a waza ari score, and following this he seemed to have an edge on his opponent, motivated by the point. Now on an excitable chase, Shulman was climbing all over and overwhelming Leutgeb in ne waza, finishing the contest on the ground.
After taking a silver medal in the -63kg category, the hosts, Spain, were ready to add another to their haul in the -60kg category. Asier MURILLO MARTINEZ DE LIZARRONDO controlled the first half of his contest against Hristo HRISTOV (BUL), scoring waza ari with sumi gaeshi, and only a minute later secured his medal with the same technique. After a 7th place finish in the Warsaw European Open, Ksawery IGNASIAK (POL) already improved by taking his place in a medal contest, but confirmed his bronze and first continental open medal with a sutemi waza attack in the opening minute against Maxime IGNACZAK (FRA).
Junior European bronze medallist, Miguel GAGO (POR) has been chipping away on the senior circuit, looking for his break and today was the day as he faced Mykyta HOLOBORODKO (UKR) for the -66kg gold. In the opening exchange Gago felt the threat of Holoborodko and lost his control, finding himself on the receiving end of a waza ari score. Despite a galant effort, Gago was unable to pull himself back in to the contest but the world ranked #90 should be pleased with his first continental open medal, for Holoborodko, this was gold #4!
Both bronze medal contests in the -66kg category ran over in to golden score. Former European Champion, Bogdan IADOV (UKR) was forced to make a comeback in the preliminaries to take on Martin SETZ (GER). The latter ceded two shidos in normal time, then with the added pressure from Iadov, took on a third, meaning a second medal in the category for Ukraine. Michael FRYER (GBR) was finding frustration with Driss MASSON JBILOU (FRA), who was masterfully evading scores, despite incredible sumi gaeshi attempts from Fryer. After two minutes of golden score, Fryer persevered to score yuko.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen