There is no doubt that Toma would have preferred to win otherwise than due to his opponent's injury after about thirty seconds. But he would also have liked to lose differently against the representative of the United Arab Emirates, Kostoev (25 years old/n°15) in the quarter-finals.
Trailing, Toma found himself, mid-fight, in a movement where the two judokas tried to lift each other. While he thought he had scored, our compatriot saw the referee award the point to his opponent who, as a result, won by ippon!
And Toma left the tatami, crying out for injustice…
Previously, the Brussels resident had dismissed the British Thompson (27 years old/n°51) and the Tajik Abdurakhmonov (19 years old/n°105). Facing the first, he had caused a scare by being led, but he restored the situation by knocking his rival to the ground. Ippon!
Then, Toma gave the young Tajik no chance, whom he knocked down first time, then a second time, after two and a half minutes of fighting, giving a thumbs up to his coach of the day… Koen Sleeckx.
Judo: Toma Nikiforov lost to the world No. 1 at the Euro…
Sami Chouchi disqualified!
In -90kg, Sami Chouchi also got rid of a Briton, Petgrave (26 years old/n°33), on three penalties. But what followed was a nightmare for the Brussels resident.
Opposed to the Greek Tselidis (27 years old/n°15), whom he had already beaten twice (2024, 2024), in Paris, he was neither more nor less disqualified! The reason ? It seems a knee placed “too violently” in the back (or neck) of his opponent.
Lamentable arbitration decision. Again…
Judo: The Georgians were too strong for the Belgians at the Euro!
