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Brazil win gold, bronze in Italy stage of judo world circuit

Beatriz Souza took the gold, Eric Takabatake bagged the bronze
Agência Brasil
Published on 12/09/2022 - 11:37
 - Updated on 13/09/2022 - 11:51
Rio de Janeiro
Beatriz Souza, campeã no Grand Slam de Abu Dhabi 2022, na categoria até 71 kg
© Emanuele Di Feliciantonio/IJF/Direitos Reservados

Sunday (Sep 11) proved golden for Brazilian judoka Beatriz Souza in the Riccione Open (Italy), the last tournament before the world championships in Uzbekistan next month. Souza became champion in the +78 kg category after winning the final against France’s Lea Fontaine by ippon.

To qualify for the final, Bia Souza beat Poland’s Kinga Wolszczak, by ippon, in the opening round, and then beat Kazakh Kamila Berlikash, in the semifinal.

Currently ranked number three worldwide, the São Paulo–born athlete has already collected three other medals this season: she was the Pan-American individual and team champion, and silver at the Tel Aviv Grand Slam.

Another Brazilian who climbed the podium in Riccione was Eric Takabatake, who took the bronze on Saturday (10), in the -66 kg category.

The world championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, will take place from October 6 to 13. In last year’s edition, in Budapest, Brazil won two individual bronze medals with Beatriz Souza and Maria Suelen Altheman.