Larisa Cerić takes seventh place at World Championships, new points for Olympic Games

TOKYO, (Patria) - At the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo, Larisa Cerić took 7th place, and as stated by the Judo Federation of BiH, the draw prevented her from achieving more. After a victory over Germany's Jasmin Kuelbs (10:0) and a victory over Ukraine's Galyna Tarasova, in the quarterfinals she was defeated by Japan's Akira Sone on three penalties, as well as in the repechage by the current world champion, Japan's Asahina Sarah.

By placing among the top 7 in the world, Larisa earned 520 new points for the Olympic Games.

"There remains regret that we failed to defend the silver world medal from the 2017 World Championships in Marrakech and the bronze medal from the 2018 World Championships in Baku, but this placement, along with the silver from the 2019 European Games in Minsk and the silver from the European Championships, confirms that Larisa is one of the best in the world in the most attractive women's category +78 kg," stated the Judo Federation of BiH.

At the start of the World Championships in Tokyo, BiH judo representative Petar Zadro also competed, achieving a placement among the top 32 with two victories. Representative Harun Sadiković was defeated by Brazilian Silva, a bronze medalist from a previous World Championship.

Summing up the competitors' performance, coach Branislav Crnogorac noted that it was not the best showing by BiH judokas.

"Of course, Larisa Cerić was expected to repeat the results from the previous two World Championships, but sporting luck turned its back on us. What can you say when in the repechage match you draw the still reigning world champion, Japan's Asahina. Larisa Cerić is currently 3rd on the World Ranking List, and that makes us all calm and gives hope for a good performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in this same Budokan hall, where judo was first included in the Olympic program back in 1964," said Crnogorac.

After the fight, Larisa stated that the draw was not in her favor.

"Still, to get two Japanese opponents who were an insurmountable obstacle for me at this moment, but I believe that in our future encounters I will do much better against them, because I felt that I could achieve victory. Seventh at the World Championships, new points for the World Ranking List, that's not so bad. I know everyone expected more, and of course I myself believed I could win a medal, but you always need a bit of sporting luck," said Cerić.

The qualification tournaments continue, and the next appearance of the BiH team is at the GRAND SLAM in Abu Dhabi.