Manuel Lombardo back at desired level with Antalya gold

Pointing to a distant 31st place in the world, not exactly in line with his qualities as an athlete, Italian Manuel Lombardo, who was junior world champion in 2018, is a solid competitor who can beat everyone and who therefore deserves to move up the rankings. He proved it today by winning with a his semi final by waza-ari against Heydarov, thus offering himself a final against the reigning world champion Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir.

For Lombardo it must be said that this return to the highest level is a release. Originally from Turin in Italy, he came to judo thanks to his brother Daniel. He grew up in the sport with the Olympic champion Fabio Basile, Manuel and Fabio having the same coaches Raffaele and Pierangelo Toniolo. Knowing that Manuel, wherever he is after a competition, likes to find the best pizza in town, it remained to be seen which colour medal he would have around his neck at dinner: gold or silver?

Lombardo was the first to pick up a penalty as he was pushed off the tatami and couldn't escape, while Tsend-Ochir was penalised for passivity a little later. The Italian judoka then launched an incredibly fast seoi-nage, which was about to propel the Mongolian athlete to the floor. To avoid being thrown he used his head, which is forbidden. For this, he was disqualified, giving away the gold medal to Lombardo.

The first match for a bronze medal was between Vladyslav Kazimirov (UKR) and Igor Wandtke (GER). The German didn't have a very good day at the office but he still reached the final block, showing the quality of judoka he is. Kazimirov had the best start, combining a seoi-nage technique with a continuation to the floor that was initially given a score, but was then logically cancelled. The battle between the two men kept going and going with no shido displayed on the scoreboard. With a few seconds remaining on the clock, Kazimirov chose the best moment to score and take the medal in the end.

At the top of the draw, we were expecting Hidayat Heydarov (AZE). The world number two was well established as the top seed and the day started well for him after great victories against Erdenebayar Batzaya (MGL), the superb winner of the Tbilisi Grand Slam last week, then against Ioan Dzitac (ROU) and Vladyslav Kazimirov (UKR). He still had to face Manuel Lombardo (ITA) in the semi-final.

Azerbaijan was hoping for gold at -73kg. They settled for bronze, since the second match for a bronze opposed the two Azeri fighters, Nurlan Osmanov (AZE) and Hidayat Heydarov (AZE). After a very closed and close match, as the athletes know each other so well, it was Heydarov who took the medal, with a victory on the floor from sankaku-jime.

Since his fantastic world championship title obtained in Tashkent last year, Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir had trouble finding his judo. Apart from a fifth place in Tel Aviv in February, each of his outings on the world circuit has ended in failure. Tokyo Grand Slam, unplaced, Tbilisi Grand Slam a week ago, unplaced again. As the next world championships approach and Tsend-Ochir has to defend his title, finding him in the final of a grand slam is a good sign, which will allow him to go to Doha a little more serene.