Austria earns nine top seven finishes at Judo Grand Prix in Linz, including surprise third place by Thomas Scharfetter.

Thomas Scharfetter has on Saturday at Judo-Grand-Prix in Linz unexpectedly strong with third place in the class up to 90 kg. The full-time butcher prevailed in front of 2,000 spectators in the medal fight in the Golden Score against Marcus Nyman from Sweden, who came third in the World Championships. It was the second ÖJV surprise after the teacher Florian Doppelhammerwho finished fifth in his Grand Prix debut (up to 66 kg).

“I didn’t stand a chance for the first three minutes, but the longer the fight lasted, the better it went. At the end, Marcus ran out of breath more and more. The hall pushed me, it was an incredible atmosphere,” he said 22-year-old Salzburger Scharfetter. “Even I never dreamed of it. I wanted to win a fight or two.” head coach Yvonne Snir-Boenisch said: “What Thomas has achieved is hard to understand. He was world class today.”

further results

Maria Höllwart ended up in the over 78 kg class as well Laurin Boehler to 100 in seventh place. Overall, Shamil won the category in Linz Borchashvili (-81 kg), a third place and seven other top seven finishes for Austria. “This is a huge success for Judo Austria and of course has to do with the home advantage,” said ÖJV sports director Markus Moser.