Sanne van Dijke continues Dutch masters success in U70kg

Sanne van Dijke won her first IJF Masters gold medal. At the second day in Budapest she captured the gold medal after her final against Greek Elisaveta Teltsidou, a feared opponent. After only fifteen seconds the first penalties were given to both athletes as they were avoiding gripping each other. A second shido was given as the first minute was not even over, for defensive attitude. The contest started to be even more tactical as the last penalty would decide the winner and it was Teltsidou who collected it, offering the victory to Sanne Van Dijke. This is a tactical win but a clear one too, without any discussion.

At the top of the draw we weren't too worried about the world number one and reigning world champion, Saki Niizoe (JPN), who had a boulevard in front of her to reach the final. She still had to pass the obstacle of Sanne Van Dijke (NED) in the semi-final, a match which promised to be tricky, herself already an Olympic medallist and twice on the podium of the world championships. Finally though, the trap closed on Niizoe who let Van Dijke slip away to the final with gold as result.

While her team-mate, two-time world champion Barbara Matic, was eliminated in the repechage, Lara Cvejtko (CRO) still gave Croatia a medal chance in the first match for a bronze medal against Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP). Lara Cvejtko did not leave one single chance for Ai Tsunoda Roustant to deploy her dynamic judo. As soon as possible she took control of her opponent and applied an unstoppable shime-waza for ippon. Already world silver medallist and now Masters bronze medallist, Lara Cvejtko is developing an impressive prize list. Her focus, her will to win but also her respect for referees and opponents is so visible and is a great example for the children of our sport. I think this deserves as much recognition as any medal.

The task promised to be difficult for Michaela Polleres (AUT) who was opposed by Saki Niizoe (JPN) for the second bronze medal. It was difficult and tiring and it took quite a while for Saki Niizoe to eventually celebrate her bronze medal following a long golden score period and a third penalty given to the Austrian judoka.

She believed in it until the last moment. Particularly sharp and ready to face the best in the category, Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP) had a faultless run until her semi-final against Elisavet Teltsidou (GRE). The first exchanges of the match to access the coveted final seemed to go in the direction of Tsunoda Roustant but that was without counting on the experience of Teltsidou who let the storm pass and ended up winning for a first appearance in a Masters final.

Ai Tsunoda Roustant is still young and she still has a lot to learn but she is starting to scare a lot of athletes in this very tough category. It was therefore the Greek judoka, the gold medallist in Kazakhstan and Georgia this season, who confirmed a great rise in power which in a year’s time in Paris could open up new horizons.

Dutch IJF Masters medals U70kg

2011 bronze Edith Bosch

2012 bronze Edith Bosch

2013 gold Kim Polling

2013 bronze Linda Bolder

2015 gold Kim Polling

2016 gold Kim Polling

2018 bronze Sanne van Dijke

2019 gold Kim Polling

2019 silver Sanne van Dijke

2021 bronze Kim Polling

2023 gold Sanne van Dijke