Madina Taimazova wins third career Grand Slam

Madina Taimazova is still an asset for the team of the Individual Neutral Athletes. She picked up a gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. In the final, the result was decided by penalties, with Ida Eriksson being penalised three times. The gold medal was for Madina Taimazova who won Grand Slam gold in 2021, 2022 and now in 2023 as well.

The season started rather well for Ida Eriksson, who reached the podium in Portugal in January 2023. Her other outings had been more complicated, since she only placed seventh twice (Antalya and Upper Austria). Today Abu Dhabi smiled on her more, since after her victory over the number one seed, she continued her momentum and qualified for the final, the first of her career at this level.

At the bottom of the table, Aoife Coughlan (AUS) had some serious strengths in her game, as did Miriam Butkereit (GER), but both judoka were defeated, paving the way to the final for Madina Taimazova (AIN).

The first bronze medal contest opposed Anka Pogacnik (SLO) and Hilde Jager (NED). Jager took the lead after having counter-attacked a weak ko-uchi-gari from Pogacnik, earning a waza-ari score! The Dutch judoka concluded on the floor for ippon. This is bronze medal number two for Hilde Jager in a grand slam.

Aoife Coughlan (AUS) and Kelly Petersen Pollard (GBR) were the last two competitors qualified for the final block and the bronze medal went to Australia and Aoife Caughlan, after Petersen Pollard was penalised three times.

Michaela Polleres had the pressure of starting her day as the top seed. After a bye in the first round, she was opposed by Loriana Kuka (KOS); a first match as a warm-up which could be a trap against the Kosovar, senior world medallist in 2019 and also a bronze medallist in the 2021 Masters. Polleres negotiated this contest very well and was opposed in the next round by the Swede Ida Eriksson. Things were not simple though and Polleres had to bow out. The same mishap happened to her in the repechage against Anka Pogacnik (SLO). This clearly represents a poor performance for the Austrian judoka, who will have to redouble her efforts next time.