Olympic Judo: Italy Claims Bronze; Simonetti Wins Gold in Ljubljana

Ljubljana, Slovenia played host to a thrilling day of judo action, with day one of competition delivering its fair share of excitement and drama. Top billed was the victory in the +78kg category by Italy’s Erica Simonetti.

Simonetti’s Golden Performance

Simonetti fought her way to the top step of the podium in the women’s +78kg category, defeating Romania’s Castellano Marino and Brazil’s Silva in her path to the final. There, she faced Egypt’s Soliman and, after a closely contested match, secured the victory by the accumulation of penalties.

“The couples demonstrated excellent preparation and achieved highly prestigious results, confirming the value of the national movement on the international scene.”

Ninfo’s Bronze Medal

Earlier in the day, Federico Ninfo clinched a bronze medal in the men’s -66kg category. Ninfo negotiated his way through the field, seeing off competition from Belgian Demets, Kazakh Botabay, and Dutch judoka Van Harten. However, he fell short in the quarter-finals to Uzbekistan’s Hamroyev. A successful repechage saw him take on Kazakhstan’s Bozsha, whom he defeated with a waza ari for bronze.

EJU Kata Tournament in Pordenone

Meanwhile, in Pordenone, Italy’s EJU Kata Tournament concluded with resounding success. The host nation topped the medal table with 11 golds, 7 silvers, and 6 bronzes. The event, according to Italy’s Kata manager, Cesare Amorosi, demonstrated excellent preparation and high technical level. It was also an opportunity for younger, cadet athletes to gain international experience.

Upcoming Events:

• Day two of judo competition in Ljubljana continues tomorrow on judo.tv, featuring the -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg, and +100kg categories.
• The IJF Kata World Series in Louvaine la Neuve, Belgium is set for March 7.

For comprehensive results, visit judo.tv.

Did You Know?

Kata vs Kumite: Unlike the Kumite competition we’re discussing, Kata in judo is not about sparring, but rather a series of precise, choreographed movements set to simulate real matches.

About 247sports.news: We strive to be your go-to source for in-depth, up-to-date sports news. For more on judo, or to join the conversation, head over to our comment section or follow us on social media.