The opening day of the Judo Grand Prix in Lima delivered a series of compelling finals, with five champions emerging across the lightest weight categories. For several of them, the victory marked a career first, setting an upbeat tone for the new Olympic qualification cycle that officially got underway in the Peruvian capital.
Scutto shines in the -48kg final
In the women's -48kg category, Italy's Assunta Scutto, the reigning world champion, faced Argentina's Maria Celia Laborde. Scutto, who has long been considered one of the brightest prospects in her division, produced a clever turnover and pinned Laborde for the win. The gold medal was her first at a Grand Prix event, a milestone that adds to her growing international reputation.
IOC member Dr Paula Pareto, herself a former Olympic champion in judo, was on hand to present the medals, underscoring the significance of the occasion.
Augusto and Rodrigues claim debut victories
In the men's -60kg final, Brazil's Michel Augusto faced Jonathan Yang of the United States. Augusto took the lead with an ashi-waza technique that earned a yuko, and he defended that narrow advantage to the final whistle. The result gave the Brazilian his first Grand Prix gold, a performance that suggests he could be a factor in the coming months.
The -52kg category saw another Brazilian, Rafaela Rodrigues, mount a comeback against Puerto Rico's Francine Echevarria. Trailing by a yuko, Rodrigues turned the contest around and secured an immobilisation to claim victory. It was her debut Grand Prix title, and the medal ceremony was conducted by Maria Martinez Murciego, president of the Peruvian Judo Federation.
Moldovan dominance in the -66kg
The men's -66kg final was an all-Moldovan affair, with Radu Izvoreanu facing his teammate Denis Vieru. Izvoreanu delivered a spectacular ippon that left no doubt about the outcome, earning gold and ensuring Moldova took both top spots on the podium. Renzo Manyari, president of the Peruvian Olympic Committee, presented the medals.
That result was a clear statement from the Moldovan judo programme, which has been steadily producing competitive athletes in recent years.
Salonen finishes in style
Finland's Pihla Salonen rounded off the day's finals in the -57kg category, facing Adriana Rodriguez Salvador of Spain. Salonen, who had impressed throughout the competition, sealed the gold with a brilliant ippon, capping an outstanding performance. The win gave her a Grand Prix title in Lima, a result that will boost her confidence as the qualification race for the next Olympics begins.
The Lima Grand Prix continues over the weekend, with more weight categories and a fresh set of contenders looking to make their mark. For the champions of day one, the victories represent not just medals but valuable ranking points in the long road to the Olympic Games.
