Heavyweights sweep the Zagreb Judo Grand Prix

Karol Gimenes, at -78 kg, obtains his first gold in the World Judo Tour.

The last day of the Zagreb Judo Grand Prix featured heavyweights.

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Croatian heroines Lara Cvjetko and Barbara Matic, together with Hungarian legend Hedvig Karakas, met their fans, signed autographs, took selfies and organized a training session for children.

At Arena Zagreb, the best judokas in the world battled for gold before a mass of euphoric fans.

In -90 kg, the Hungarian Krisztian Toth was the first to get on the podium and win a gold medal. It is an honor to get this achievement during the Hungarian National Day. Something that surely he has made all his followers overflow with joy and pride from his houses.

The vice president of the International Judo Federation, Laszlo Toth, presented the medals.

“I love Zagreb, I love Croatia, of course, because of the beach… But also because of the training camp, which is incredible and the experiences that are lived there and the public that supports me. Yes, it has been an incredible day “Toth told the media.

Karol Gimenes, at -78 kg, had his best day on the mat: his first World Judo Tour event and reached the top of the podium to receive his gold medal. An incredible result for the Brazilian.

Sanda Corak, the Federation’s Director of Education, presented the medals.

Karol Gimenes declared: “I felt like in Brazil, since we are used to having a dedicated audience there, and it was the same here during the final. It was like home, I felt good and confident, an incredible feeling.”

In -100kg Aleksandar Kulolj scored an outstanding waza-ari and held on in the final seconds of the fight to take the gold medal, his first on the world circuit since 2018.

The Secretary General of the European Judo Union, Martin Poiger, presented the medals.

In +78kg, Kayra Ozdemir, proved to be in excellent physical shape by showing the public an excellent ippon with which she sealed the contest.

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The honorary president of the Croatian Judo Federation, Tomislav Čuljak, presented the medals.

At +100kg, double Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek was about to be grabbed by Ota Hyoga, but Krpalek escaped and scored a tactical victory thanks to penalties. Another gold for the Czech phenomenon.

The sports director of the Federation, Vladimir Barta, delivered the medals.

With this comes the end of the Zagreb Judo Grand Prix; and there is no doubt that the Croatian capital has witnessed excellent displays of talent from some of the best judoka in the world.

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