Netherlands celebrates double Dutch win at IJF Grand Prix

Netherlands celebrates double Dutch win at IJF Grand Prix
By Euronews
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The Dutch were in for a treat on day two of the International Judo Federation’s Grand Prix in The Hague.

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The Dutch were in for a treat on day two of the International Judo Federation’s Grand Prix in The Hague.

Kim Polling of The Netherlands, the 10-time IJF world tour gold medalist, had home fans roaring when she took gold in the -70kg final.

She took on compatriot Sanne Van Dijk and opened her account with an Uchimata scoring waza ari.

She followed that up with two more waza aris, the first of which came from a dropping shoulder throw and the second, a winding maki komi, giving her a dominant victory three nil.

Polling celebrated her golden moment with the home fans after her win.

The 26 year old said she was happy that her country was hosting the event:

‘‘Of course it’s great that it’s in The Hague,” said Polling afterwards.
“I want to be champion I like it everywhere. Now that is in the Hague it’s more special. I really like it. Also my head is everywhere, on every poster, I also like that I have won.

“Also for the fans in the Netherlands, they had to go to Dusseldorf and Paris and now they just can go here. I really like that we have the Grand Prix in The Hague. We’re doing quite a good job as the Netherlands in judo, so for a judo country it’s good that we have our own Grand Prix.’‘

Her team mate Juul Franssen took under 63kg gold, making it two wins in the women’s categories.

As former Olympic and world medalist Anicka Van Emden, herself a two time grand prix champion watched on, the dutch flag was raised not once but twice.

‘‘I’m very happy and very proud that the Netherlands has its own Gran Prix,” Van Emden said.

“I think that I country like the Netherlands has to have its own big tournament so I’m very happy that is here now. And it’s also good for the judo in Netherlands, it’s a boost.

“For me it was one year late, but I enjoyed myself on the stands watching my category -63 kg, my friend Juul Franssen she won in her category, so I’m happy.”

Our man of the day was Khadbaatar Narankhuu of Mongolia, who threw Victor Scvortov of the United Arab Emirates with a spectacular dropping shoulder throw for ippon in the under 73kg final.

Narankhuu got right between his opponents legs before rotating him onto his back. More success for Mongolia in The Hague!

Our move of the day came in the -81kg final where Russia’s Ivan Vorobev took on Germany’s Dominic Ressel.

The Russian brilliantly faked forwards before snaking his leg behind his opponent and driving the German on to his back for a spectacular Ippon.

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