Rising Star Joanne van Lieshout takes sensational world title

Joanne van Lieshout's meteoric rise in judo continues to captivate the sports world. The 21-year-old Dutch sensation, already a double junior world champion, added a senior world title to her accolades on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Van Lieshout’s victory marks her as a standout talent, following in the footsteps of legends like Teddy Riner and Lukas Krpalek, who also transitioned from junior champions to multiple senior world titleholders.

In the final for women -63kg, Van Lieshout faced Angelika Szymanska of Poland. Despite Szymanska's impressive ne-waza skills, Van Lieshout's dominance in their head-to-head record (3-0) suggested a tough contest ahead. The match was an intense ne-waza battle from the start, with both judokas demonstrating proficiency in transition and seeking opportunities for kansetsu-waza, shime-waza, and holds. Ultimately, Van Lieshout secured victory with a waza-ari from a counter to Szymanska's uchi-mata, sealing the win just 30 seconds before the end. This triumph made Van Lieshout the first Dutch woman to win a world championship title since 2009, when the last male champion for the Netherlands was Noel van 't End in 2019.

The bronze medal matches in the -63kg category were equally thrilling. The first contest featured Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA) and Andreja Leski (SLO), the finalists from the 2023 World Championships. Despite an intense fight, Agbegnenou clinched her ninth senior world medal on penalties. The second bronze medal match saw Laura Fazliu (KOS) face Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN). Fazliu's focus and power were on full display as she executed an o-uchi-gaeshi for waza-ari, maintaining her lead until the clock ran out.

Van Lieshout’s journey to the final was marked by a decisive victory over Beauchemin-Pinard in the semi-final, where she held the top seed for ippon. This performance guaranteed her a finish at least one level higher than her bronze in Doha the previous year. In the other semi-final, Szymanska showcased her exceptional ne-waza skills, arm-locking Leski convincingly to secure her first world medal, regardless of the final outcome. Szymanska's rise to the podium was a remarkable achievement, especially after placing fifth in Tashkent in 2022.

Katharina Haecker (AUS) also made a notable impact with the fastest throw of the day during the preliminaries, demonstrating incredible speed and skill. However, her journey was cut short, highlighting the unpredictability of the competition.

The presence of Agbegnenou, seeded fifth, alongside the top-seeded Beauchemin-Pinard, and unseeded world champion Horikawa (JPN), added to the unpredictability of the event. Agbegnenou's quarter-final loss to Beauchemin-Pinard and subsequent bronze medal win underscored the competitive nature of the tournament. Earlier this year, at the Paris Grand Slam, Van Lieshout's exceptional groundwork had already set the stage for her to challenge the reigning champions.

Van Lieshout's victory in Abu Dhabi not only adds to her growing legacy but also signals the arrival of a new generation of judo champions. Her ability to perform under pressure and secure a world title at such a young age positions her as a formidable contender for future competitions, including the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. The Dutch judo team and fans worldwide celebrate this historic achievement, eagerly anticipating what lies ahead for Joanne van Lieshout.