Judo: Samuel Gaßner shone in his late debut

Judoka Samuel Gaßner could have celebrated his debut at the state championships five or six years ago, but it only worked out for the Ottensheimer on Saturday.

That’s right: the 22-year-old secured the title up to 73 kilograms in Eferding. It’s good, says Gaßner, that he can finally make a difference, as he had often been plagued by bad luck in the past. Once he was sick the night before the state championship, another time he was injured, another time he had to skip the tournament in favor of preparing for an international championship.

• See also: The OÖLiga’s likely goal of the year
• Also read: Black Wings put the Vienna Capitals in their place with 5:2
• At the age of 34: Burgstaller makes a comeback in the ÖFB team

“The others were already saying that I was looking for excuses,” the UJZ Mühlviertel athlete added with a smile. This didn’t bother him too much, as his focus is on international events anyway. To do this, Gaßner is setting off for a training camp in Croatia on Monday to get in shape for the U23 European Championships in Potsdam in mid-November.

Without Shamil, Wachid won

While Shamil Borchashvili skipped the national highlight in favor of a training camp in Italy, his brother Wachid won the title up to 90 kilos in Eferding. In the final he beat Thomas Scharfetter from Bischofshofen, the surprise third-place finisher at the Linz Grand Prix.

With Daniel Leutgeb (up to 60) another class win went to Multikraft Wels on Saturday. Thanks to Carina Klaus-Sternwieser (up to 52), Askö Reichraming, a third Upper Austrian club, entered the title list.

The competitions with the mixed team were completed on Sunday. Behind the winner Bischofshofen and Vienna Samurai, the UJZ Mühlviertel came in third place. Neo-national champion Gaßner was also able to contribute two points.