On the second day of the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi, an important Judo for Peace project was witnessed.
Twenty-one young Jewish and Muslim judoka from Israel between the ages of twelve and seventeen traveled to Abu Dhabi to show friendship and inclusion. An initiative to continue the relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Israel and to show Judo values.
With -63 kg, British Lucy Renhall survived her preliminary rounds throughout the day with beautiful judo and scored at each of her competitions on the way to the final.
In the final, Renshall scored a massive hip throw against Portuguese Barbara Timo and won her second gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam! She earned her a fifth Grand Slam gold medal overall. An impressive display of judo.
H.E. Suhail Alareefi Abu Dhabi Sports Council Executive Director of the events sector awarded the medals.
“_I love it here, I won my first medal in the junior world here, I won a bronze medal at this location and then two Grand Slam medals before that, so yes, there is something good going on here,” said Lucy Renshall enthusiastically.
In the -73 kg category, the stylish Swiss judoka Nils Stump showed off his quality judo throughout the day. Throw all his opponents using the same technique, sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi.
In the final, Stump met Italian Giovanni Esposito and won the gold medal for Switzerland in a spectacular way; it was also his first gold medal on the World Judo Tour! It’s a big day for him.
The 73 kg medals were awarded by Mr. Oybek Kasimov, the Uzbek NOC Secretary General.
With -70 kg, Elisavet Teltsidou from Greece had a fantastic morning on the way to a final against Belgian Gabriella Willems, who she overcame with a tactical victory.
The 70 kg medals were awarded by professional tennis player Mrs. Sorana Cîrstea
Frenchman Nicolas Chilard won the gold with -81 kg against Spaniard Jose Maria Mendiola Izquieta with an impressive submission that came from a clever strangulation.
The 81 kg medals were awarded by Mr. Vladimir Barta, Chief Sports Director of the IJF
Nugzar Tatalashvili, an amazing O-Soto Gari of home crowd heroes, the UAE’s own, was our moment of the day and drove the stadium wild! An incredible technique that inspired the audience and the young judoka.
After another incredible day, the future of judo in Abu Dhabi is bright!