Judoka Polling takes first medal since motherhood at Grand Slam in Paris | Sports Other

---

Feb 05, 2023 at 6:44 PM Update: an hour ago

Judoka Kim Polling won her first medal at the prestigious Grand Slam in Paris on Sunday since she gave birth to a daughter last year. Polling took bronze in the class up to 70 kilograms with a victory over the Croatian Barbara Matic.

A few seconds before the end of the match, Matic, the world champion of the past two years, received a penalty from the referee. As a result, the bronze went to Polling, who reacted emotionally and embraced her coach Garmt Zijlstra.

The 31-year-old judoka made her comeback on the tatami in October after giving birth to a daughter in May. At the Masters in Jerusalem at the end of last year, Polling came close to a medal, but then lost the bronze medal game.

In Paris, where she says she made her big breakthrough with the seniors ten years ago by winning the Grand Slam, Polling did have the success she craved.

Polling is a four-time European champion in the class up to 70 kilograms. The veteran was missing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but hopes to be there again next year in Paris.

Michael Korrel defeated Dzhafar Kostoev in the final, who had defeated him in the quarterfinals of the Masters in Jerusalem at the end of last year. Photo: Reuters

Dutch success in Paris

In addition to Polling, there were more Dutchmen on the podium at the Paris Grand Slam. Noël van ‘t End captured the gold in the class up to 90 kilograms. Michael Korrel won the title in the category up to 100 kilograms. Bronze was for Kim Polling (-70 kg) and Guusje Steenhuis (-78 kg).

The 31-year-old Van ‘t End, world champion in 2019, recorded his second victory at a Grand Slam in Paris. The Utrechter settled in the final via a waza-ari with Murad Fatiyev from Azerbaijan.

Korrel had a very difficult time in his final with Dzhafar Kostoev from the United Arab Emirates, but still struck in the golden score. The 28-year-old Korrel celebrated his fifth victory at a Grand Slam. He also triumphed in Paris five years ago.

---

Source

---