Kowalewska delivers Europe’s big moment as Austria stacks medals in Dushanbe

Day two of the Dushanbe Grand Slam gave Europe plenty to build on, even with only one gold medal coming back to the continent. Across the women’s -63 kg and -70 kg, and the men’s -73 kg and -81 kg divisions, European judoka collected 12 more medals. Austria stood out in particular, finishing the day with three medals across the four categories.

In the women’s -63 kg event, Europe was shut out of the final as Mongolia took the top spots. Still, Lubjana Piovesana (AUT) and Louna-Lumia Seikkula (FIN) earned bronze medals and kept Europe on the podium. For 21-year-old Seikkula, it was a breakthrough moment: her first IJF World Tour medal, achieved while entering the event unseeded.

Austria stayed at the centre of the medal race all day long.

The women’s -70 kg class belonged entirely to Europe. Clémence Eme (FRA) and Irene Pedrotti (ITA) claimed the bronze medals, setting up an all-European final between Aleksandra Kowalewska (POL) and Michaela Polleres (AUT). Polleres looked in control early, but Kowalewska gradually changed the rhythm and began to ask bigger questions.

With 90 seconds left, the Polish judoka nearly scored with Seoi-otoshi and showed she was ready to take risks. In golden score, she found the opening she needed and scored Waza-ari with Ko-uchi-gari. The reaction said everything: at just 21, Kowalewska had taken her first Grand Slam title against one of the most experienced names in the draw.

At -73 kg, the spotlight shifted to home favourite Muhiddin Asadulloev (TJK). In the final against Karen Galstian (RUS), he read an Uchi-mata attempt almost instantly and countered for Ippon after only 30 seconds. Danil Lavrentev (RUS) and Rashid Mammadaliyev (AZE) finished with bronze.

The men’s -81 kg category closed the session with more European hardware. Victor Sterpu (MDA) and Alpha Oumar Djalo (FRA) took bronze, while Bernd Fasching (AUT) reached the final. There, Somon Makhmadbekov (TJK) scored early with O-soto-otoshi for Yuko and held off the Austrian’s pressure to seal the win.

Europe did not dominate every final, but its depth was impossible to miss. Austria’s consistency and Kowalewska’s breakout gold gave the day its strongest European storyline.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union