Elios Manzi (ITA) and David Garcia Torne (ESP) put on quite a show in the morning session at the Zagreb Arena, the Spanish judoka delivering some particularly massive throws. Their M.O. continued in the final, both looking for the big ippon win but ultimately it was Garcia Torne who took the gold medal. Using a kata-guruma that seemed to arrive from nowhere, he controlled the direction of his attack perfectly to claim the top prize.
Miguel Gago (POR) and Bence Pongracz (HUN) faced off for the first bronze medal of the category. The latter straight to action, scoring a yuko from a combination of techniques finishing with a seoi-otoshi, Gago landing on his side. A flurry of movement continued, shoulders, hips and hands working hard on both sides. That first score though was enough to decide the contest and as the 4th minute ended, so did Gago’s hope of reaching the podium.
Lasha Nadiradze (GEO) would have a big battle to win to earn the third medal of the -66 kg group. Boyan Yotov (BUL) was on fine form in Zagreb, making only a tiny mistake in the preliminary session, one that cost him dearly; he was not planning to make two!
However, the first 30 seconds of the contest began with a huge pick-up at the hips and a full roll through the air, forwards, with no feet on the ground; Yotov had made another mistake and scrambled to ensure it wouldn’t be catastrophic. A waza-ari was registered for the Georgian but before Nadiradze or the referee had time to blink, Yotov rectified his second mistake of the day by holding Nadiradze down. He managed to escape but not before an equalising waza-ari was called.
In the next moment though, everything stopped and a review took place. Nadiradze’s throw showed a clear head dive and he was therefore disqualified. This was a very exciting 30 second final indeed! It was bronze for 21 year old Yotov, his first World Judo Tour medal.
Final (-66 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-66 kg)
