Zakroisky’s Return Earns a Podium Place in Podgorica

Hili Zakroisky (ISR) marked her return from injury with a bronze medal in the -57 kg category at the Junior European event in Podgorica. The Israeli judoka overcame team-mate Gil Perry (ISR) in a contest shaped by their familiarity with each other’s Judo.

Although they had not met on the international stage before, Zakroisky and Perry knew each other well as team-mates. That made the bronze-medal contest a particularly tactical encounter, with little room for surprise.

Zakroisky made the key move first. She combined elements of Ko-soto-gari and De-ashi-barai to score Waza-ari, putting Perry under immediate pressure. Perry searched repeatedly for Uchi-mata, but Zakroisky stayed in control and protected her advantage through to the final score.

The medal carried extra weight after Zakroisky’s lengthy injury absence. Her appearance in Podgorica was already significant, and the bronze added a clear result to her comeback.

Two years after taking Cadet European bronze, Zakroisky has returned to a continental podium as a junior. It was a composed performance in an all-Israeli contest, built on one decisive scoring action and the determination to see it through.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union