Judoka Denis Vieru and Adil Osmanov returned home with the first two medals from the Paris Olympic Games. They were greeted with pomp and circumstance at the Chisinau International Airport, the supporters chanting “Moldova!” and congratulating them on the achieved results. Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun also came to greet them, IPN reports.
Denis Vieru said that this medal represents a step for him, for the team, but also for the Federation. The medal is well deserved by all those who contributed to obtaining it. “Dreams come true, we have to work further, to achieve new goals and there is always room for improvement. I will not change the tradition and will keep the medal at my parents, who are my start. I dedicate it to all those who always support me and love me,” stated the judoka.
Adil Osmanov said that for him any medal is gold. “I’m happy that I was able to achieve this goal, which is an accomplishment not only for me, but also for the entire country. Now I’m going to improve my health and will continue with new goals,” said the athlete.
Denis Vieru is the first Moldovan judoka in the history of the Republic of Moldova to win a medal at the Olympic Games. He won bronze after defeating France’s Walide Khyar in the fight for the third place in the 66 kg weight class.
Judoka Adil Osmanov won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics after beating Italy’s Manuel Lombardo, European champion in 2021 and double world vice-champion, in the small final of the up to 73 kg weight class.
The athletes from the Republic of Moldova who will rank first at the Olympic Games will be awarded 3 million lei. Those who will occupy the second place will receive 2.6 million lei and those who will bring the bronze will collect 2 million lei. The athletes who will rank fourth or fifth will receive 600,000 lei. Those who will take the sixth, seventh and eighth places will be awarded 400,000 lei, 300,000 lei and, respectively, 200,000 lei.
