First big tournament since the World championships in Madrid, the Paris Open Premier League (January 25-27) has given rise to many revenges. The Frenchman Steven Da Costa (-67 kg) is the only World champion to have won again. A special mention to Belarus’ Anton Isakau, who signs his first international victory. Echoes...
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photos : Kphotos
The remakes of the world finals
Some leaders do not suffer much competition. In Kata, it is even impressive. Thus, the finals of the Paris Open have resulted in 2 remakes of the World championships. If Damian Quintero failed to dominate Ryo Kiyuna, Kiyou Shimizu took revenge on Sandra Sanchez Jaime. It is also the performance that Serap Ozcelik managed against World champion Miho Miyahara by winning the -50 kg final.
5 world champions in the final
In addition to Sandra Sanchez Jaime and Ryo Kiyuna in Kata, 3 other world champions have confirmed their leadership. But of the three, only Steven Da Costa (-67 kg) won. Dorota Banaszczyk (-55 kg) and Angelo Crescenzo (-60 kg) lost in the final respectively against the European champion Anzhelika Terliuga and Iran’s Hassanniaideilami.
They are on the podium again
Being medalists at the Madrid Worlds and the Paris Open is not so simple. Only 16 athletes managed to do so, including the previous ones named. Unhappy finalist at the Worlds, Ayumi Uekusa (+68 kg) won her first Paris Open on Sunday. Her compatriot Ken Nishimura (-75 kg), 3rd in Madrid, won his second Paris Open in a row. Giana Lotfy (-61 kg), 3rd in Madrid, is finalist, just like Rafael Aghayev (-75 kg). Viviana Bottaro (kata), Darkhan Assadilov (-60 kg) and Sajad Ganjzadeh (+84 kg) are again on the 3rd step of the podium.
They love Paris !
They won in 2018, they did it again in 2019. Steven Da Costa (-67 kg), Ken Nishimura (-75 kg), Kiyou Shimizu (kata) and Ryo Kiyuna (kata) all won both years.
Finalist in 2018, Gwendoline Philippe (-61 kg) won her 1st Paris Open. Nancy Garcia (+68 kg) and Kayo Someya (-68 kg) climbed again in the final, but, like last year, they lost.
The perf’ of the weekend
His only podium dates back to 2017 and the Dubai Open, which he finished in 3rd place. At 23, Belarus Anton Isakau (-84 kg) hit hard last weekend by winning in Paris. 5th in the Madrid’s Worlds, he beat Zabiollah Poorshab (3rd at the Worlds), Denis Denisenko, Turgut Asanov, Ryutaro Araga, Rikito Shimada and, in the final, Mahdi Ghararizadeh. We can say that he didn’t steal his success !
Paris premieres
3rd last year, Anzhelika Terliuga (-55 kg) wins for the first time in Paris, as Gwendoline Philippe, 2nd last year (-61 kg), Elena Quirici, finalist in 2016 (-68 kg) , Ayumi Uekusa (+68 kg), Majid Hassanniaideilami (-60 kg), Anton Isakau (-84 kg).
