Judo

Polleres third in Linz, Fasching surprises

Michaela Polleres (left)(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Michaela Polleres finished third (up to 70 kg) and Bernd Fasching fifth (up to 81 kg) at the Judo Grand Prix in Linz on Saturday. The Olympic silver medalist Polleres defeated the Japanese Moka Kuwagata, who received three warnings (shido), by golden score in the fight for third place. Fasching was the surprise from an Austrian perspective. However, the 20-year-old was surprised by Japan's Joji Togo with an ippon after just a few seconds.

Polleres from Lower Austria had reached the final round after three wins, but was defeated by Maria Perez (PUR) in the opening round, meaning her chance of gold was gone. "It was a tough day with very demanding fights. I'm happy to have secured the medal in the end," said Polleres. She could live very well with third place.

After three wins and one defeat in the pool final, Fasching kept her chances of a podium finish alive with a win over Belgium's Jarne Duyck. But then things went quickly. "It's bitter to be thrown with ippon so quickly after just a few seconds," commented the Viennese on his defeat against Togo, but he was very satisfied with his overall performance. Austria's strongest 81 fighter, Olympic bronze medalist Shamil Borchashvili, had decided not to compete. His brother Wachid Borchashvili lost his first fight.

All other ÖJV athletes were eliminated early
All other participants from Austria in the Saturday weight classes up to 73 and up to 81 kg (men) and up to 63 and up to 70 kg (women) were also eliminated prematurely. Among them was Lubjana Piovesana (up to 63), the winner of the Grand Slam in Baku, who was defeated in her very first fight.