Adrian Gomboc takes revenge in Zantaraia and takes gold in Agadir

Maybe it was a surprise, but in fact it was a normal gold medal for Adrian Gomboc, the number five of the Olympic Games in Rio. Despite the big names in the category U66kg at the Grand Prix in Agadir, it was the Slovenian who captured the gold medal.

One could legitimately expect a final between Georgii Zantaraia (UKR), finalist of the Düsseldorf Grand Slam less than two weeks ago, and Mikhail Puliaev (RUS), triple world silver medalist, but it was outsiders who finally won the laurels. Adrian Gomboc (SLO), who was 39th in the world on the morning of the competition, is no stranger to being in the hunt for major medals. To see him with gold at the end of the day is not a total surprise, but despite all, the premature defeat of the favourites were unforeseen.

Gomboc won his five fights convincingly and bested Yerlan Sarikzhanov in the final in Agadir in the golden score by wazari. In the second round Gomboc defeated European Champion Georgii Zantaria in an attractive match. Gomboc progressed and defeated Daniel Jean (FRA) in the quarter and Yerlan Zhaksybekov, another Kazakh in the semi final.

Slovenian Adrian Gomboc won bronze at the World Junior Championships in 2013 in Slovenia and was on the map since then. In 2015 he won the European Open in Cluj and Taipei Open in 2015 and won the Grand Prix in Budapest in 2016 as first major achievement. As a youngster he won national titles in all ages and the fifth place at the Olympic Games in Rio was a disappointment, but still his best performance in such competitive weight category. He knew Zantaraia well as the Ukrainian was his opponent in the European Championships final in Warsaw in 2017. A well timed revenge.

To complete the success for Slovenia Andraz Jereb won the bronze medal against Zhaksybekov and Daniel Jean of France capttured the second medal against Sergiu Oleinic (POR).