ABU DHABI // Sergiu Toma, the UAE’s Olympic bronze medallist at the Rio Olympic Games, overcame fatigue and pressure to win a maiden gold at the IJF World Judo Tour Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
A winner of silver last year and bronze in 2013, he returned this year on the back of an Olympic medal to end his gold drought in the Grand Slam World Tour.
“I have won silver and bronze in the Grand Slams but never a gold. This is the first time I think I have fulfilled one of my long-standing objectives,” said Toma.
The UAE also bagged a bronze through Victor Scvortov on Day 2 of the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi at the Zayed Sports City’s Ipic Arena on Saturday.
“For us, this gold medal means a lot, perhaps, bigger than the Olympic medal,” said an emotional Naser Al Tamimi, general secretary of the UAE Wrestling, Judo and Kick Boxing Federation.
“The expectations for Sergiu to win gold here was very high after becoming only the second athlete to win an Olympic medal in the UAE’s history. Now we want to take this success forward with the long term objective being the 2020 Olympics.”
Toma got the better of Brazilian Victor Penalbar by a yuko in the 81-kilogram weight final.
“It has been a tough season being an Olympic year,” said Toma. “There was a lot of pressure coming into the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi because the expectations were very high for me to win the gold.
“I feel happy and relieved after achieving it for my adopted country. The fights are very tough at this level. Victor also competed at the Rio Games, so the competition was no less than an Olympic event.”
The Moldovan-born judoka topped Pool A after victories over Rafael Macedo of Brazil and Russian Ivan Vorobev. He outclassed Grand Slam Paris bronze medallist Frank de Witt of the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
Scvortov overcame Sam van Westende also by yuko after the bronze medal bout in the 73kg went into the golden score after a 0-0 deadlock at the end of the regulation five minutes.
Scvortov emerged winner of Pool B after wins over Luis Carmo of Portugal and Brazilian Alex Pomba Silva.
In the semi-finals, he went down to Rustam Orujov of Azerbaijan, who lost the final to Swede Tommy Marcias.
Both Toma and Scvortov will next compete in the Grand Slam Tokyo in four weeks’ time before taking a break for the year with the long-term objective of preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Amna Atiq, one of three Emirati entries in the women’s category, was beaten in under 30 seconds by Giovanna Scoccimarro of Germany.
France bagged two women’s gold through Helen Receveaux (57kg) and Marie Gahie (70kg) while Juul Franssen (63kg) of Netherlands took the other.
The UAE will be hoping that Mihail Marchitan can make an impression in today’s final day of the event.
He is up against Brazilian Eduardo Bettoni in the 90kg, and if he successful, will meet either European Open champion Max Stewart of Britain or Aurelien Diesse of France in the second round.
Reem Abdouli is the other UAE entry and she meets Rose Brigitte of Seychelles in the women’s 78kg opener.
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