Daria Bilodid back at the highest podium as triple European champ

In the last final of the first day of the European Championships in Zagreb, Kaja Kajzer of Slovenia faced off against Daria Bilodid of Ukraine. Bilodid, known for her accomplishments at -48kg, was competing in the -57kg category and aimed to regain her dominance on the international stage. Despite Kajzer's strong performance and previous win against Bilodid, the Ukrainian judoka controlled the contest, leading Kajzer to accumulate three shidos and securing Bilodid her first title in her new category.

For Bilodid, it marked a significant return to the top of the podium after four years, with her last major title being the Grand Slam in Paris. Reflecting on her victory, Bilodid expressed satisfaction at winning in the -57kg division, especially in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Despite her success, she acknowledged that there is still room for improvement and emphasized the importance of mental strength in her performance.

Looking ahead to the Olympics, Bilodid remained cautious, acknowledging that much still needs to happen before the Games. She plans to participate in the World Championships in Abu Dhabi and a training camp in Benidorm before focusing on her preparation in Ukraine, aiming for another Olympic medal, preferably gold, at the Champ de Mars arena.

The bronze medal contest between Timna Nelson Levy of Israel and Pauline Starke of Germany proved to be an exhausting battle, extending into golden score. Eventually, Nelson Levy seized the opportunity to score, securing her fourth continental medal. In the second bronze contest, Eteri Liparteliani of Georgia faced off against Marica Perisic of Serbia, who had strong support from the stands. The match was fiercely physical from the outset, with Perisic initially dominating and forcing two shidos on Liparteliani. However, just 7 seconds into golden score, Liparteliani executed a counter move to claim victory.