Image: GEPA pictures
“A delegate from the IJF (Judo World Federation; note) said to me that two things cannot be bought: spectators and success,” said Austria’s president of the association, Martin Poiger. “At the Grand Prix in Linz we had both.” With a total of around 5000 spectators over three days, the World Tour premiere in the Tips Arena exceeded expectations. The good mood was partly due to the nine top 7 placements of the home aces, of course outshined by the tournament victory announced by Marchtrenker Shamil Borchashvili. On the final day, Thomas Scharfetter from Bischofshofen managed a big surprise with rank three to 90 kilos. “As number 171 in the world at this level, he won bronze and defeated Marcus Nyman (Swe), third in the World Championships, in a spectacular fight. Not even Thomas himself would have thought that possible in the morning,” explained head coach Yvonne Snir-Bönisch Advantage of a home tournament. With Michaela Polleres and Aaron Fara, two Grand Slam winners had to pass injured.
In the coming weeks, Austria’s association, together with chief organizer Manfred Reisinger, will work through the event, which has a budget of around one million euros, and draw conclusions for the coming editions. The contract with the IJF runs until 2026, with the tournament moving to March from then on. Because of the escalating Olympic qualification, Poiger expects the field of 455 participants this time to grow by another hundred.
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