European bronze sparks fly as Bold edges a tense -63 kg final in Dushanbe

The -63 kg final at the Dushanbe Grand Slam wasn’t about fireworks—it was about control. Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo and Gankhaich Bold know each other extremely well, and it showed in every cautious exchange. The pace never really took off, and penalties started to stack up, finishing regular time with two Shido each.

Golden score finally broke the stalemate, but not with a big throw. Lkhagvatogoo picked up a third Shido, and Bold’s relief was almost tangible as the contest ended in her favour. Mongolia arrived with the top two athletes in the category and left with the full set from the final: gold and silver. On a day that underlined the value of the ranking list, the top seeds delivered.

Sometimes the hardest final is the one where neither athlete gives you an opening.

Europe, though, brought the emotion in the bronze medal matches. Lubjana Piovesana (AUT) had missed the final after a golden score semi-final against Bold, but she didn’t let that disappointment linger. Against Nina Simic (CRO), Piovesana struck quickly with a clean shime-waza entry for ippon, sealing the win in less than half the allotted time. It also marked a personal milestone: her sixth Grand Slam medal.

The second bronze fight offered a different kind of highlight. Louna-Loumia Seikkula (FIN) faced Yeji Kim (KOR), who pushed an early fast rhythm and threatened with O-uchi-gari. Seikkula adjusted fast, read the danger, and then launched an unorthodox kata-guruma before the halfway mark. It landed for a clear ippon, earning Seikkula her first Grand Slam medal—bronze in Dushanbe, but won with real authority.

Two European bronzes, two finishes that made the arena wake up.

Source: JudoInside