Portuguese judoka Telma Monteiro suffered an apparently serious injury in her first bout at the European Championships in Montpellier, France, in her 17th participation, at the age of 37, in the continental competition, and was forced to retire.
Telma Monteiro was fighting with the Russian Daria Kurbonmamadova, competing as a neutral, when a throw attempt by her opponent, with five seconds left, left the Portuguese prostrate on the tatami.
The Benfica judoka, record holder for European medals with 15, six of them European champions, could not get up and immediately grabbed her leg, writhing, screaming and raising her arm to her face.
The judoka’s discomfort immediately led to the arrival of the medical team, leaving Telma remaining on the mat for a while being assisted, before getting up, supported by the doctors, and leaving supported, but on her own feet.
The fight with Daria Kurbonmamadova seemed balanced, with no notable advantages on either side, but, in the Russian’s throw attempt, Telma Monteiro fell badly, on the left side of her body.
The first day of the European Championship did not start well for the team, which, before Telma Monteiro, also saw the premature departure of Rodrigo Lopes (-60 kg) and Joana Diogo (-52 kg), and, later, Maria Siderot (-52kg).
Rodrigo Lopes was the first to take action at the Arena Sud de France, with the judoka, also from Benfica, giving in to the Italian Andrea Carlino four seconds into the ‘golden score’, an extra time after the first four minutes.
The judoka, 34th in the world, faced a theoretically accessible rival, given a lower ranking, in 62nd position, as well as Joana Diogo (32nd) against the Cypriot Sofia Asvesta (48th), losing the Judo Clube de Coimbra athlete very close to the end.
In a tough fight on the ground, Joana Diogo was immobilized (osaekomi) by her opponent, with 38 seconds left.
In the -52 kg category, María Siderot was the one who, theoretically, had the greatest difficulties on this day, and the Sporting judoka could not resist the British Chelsie Giles (fourth in the world, third favorite).
Giles, with a record that includes an Olympic bronze in Tokyo 2020, the title of world runner-up in 2022, defending European champion (Sofia 2022) and a European bronze in 2019, won with a pin after 1.28 minutes of combat.
Source: TSF
