Brazilian judo ended the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, the penultimate international stage of the season, with three bronzes.
THE The last medal was won this Sunday (30), by Leonardo Gonçalves from São Pauloin the category up to 100 kilograms (kg).
Fifth place in the International Judo Federation (IJF) ranking, Leonardo had four fights to reach the podium. In his debut, Slovak Benjamin Mataseje (118th) beat him. Then, he lost to the Hungarian Zsombor Veg (14th). In the repechage, he defeated Dzhakhongir Madzhidov (seventh), from Tajikistan. Finally, he surpassed the Dutch Simeon Catharina (18th), securing bronze.
The gold medal in the category went to Russian Arman Adamian, ninth in the world, who beat compatriot Idar Bifov (93rd) in the final. In addition to Leonardo, the Spanish-born Georgian Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (eighth) also won bronze.
Brazil had two other judokas on the mat this Sunday, in the under 90 kg category.
Despite being the best ranked in their weight class, Rafael Macedo (fifth) and Marcelo Fronckowiak (sixth) from São Paulo did not reach the medal dispute. Rafael lost in his debut, to Vadim Ghimbovschi, from Moldova (68th). Marcelo, after defeating Abdulahad Majidov, from Tajikistan (unranked), fell to Serbian Nemanja Majdov (22nd).
Brazil’s other bronze medals in Abu Dhabi came on Saturday (29), with Rafaela Silva from Rio, in the under-63 kg category, and Gaucho Daniel Cargnin, among the under-73 kg judokas.
The next and final event of the season will be the Grand Slam in Tokyo, Japan, between December 6th and 7th.
