Judo: Mina Libeer wins bronze at Oceania Championships

16/11/2023

The Belgian judoka has won a magnificent bronze medal at an international tournament in Australia.

On the tatamis of Perth, Australia, Mina Libeer first eliminated the American Holguin (age 23/#37) before being defeated by the young South Korean Huh (age 20/#6) in the quarter-finals.

After being sent to the repechages, the 25-year-old from Ghent saw off the Azeri Alizada (age 18/#74) to earn the right to compete for the bronze medal against the German Ballhaus (age 23/#25), an opponent Mina Libeer had never faced before.

The battle was particularly close. The German even led by a waza-ari, before being disqualified for a banned hold on an attack. This benefited the Belgian judoka, who could now claim the bronze medal at this Oceania Open.