Coming in as the No. 3 seed, Seija showed grit, strategy, and championship spirit throughout her performance. Her path to gold was nothing short of impressive:
First Round: Victory over Pihla SALONEN (FIN)
Quarterfinal: Defeated Italy’s rising star Veronica TONIOLO (ITA)
Semifinal: Took down the experienced Marica PERISIC (SRB)
Final: A tactical and hard-fought win over 2025 Tbilisi Grand Slam Champion Eteri LIPARTELIANI (GEO)
In the final, Seija executed a perfectly calculated game plan:
“We had a plan—she [Liparteliani] likes to stay very close, so I needed to keep the distance between us, and when I had the right feeling, I attacked,” Seija explained after the match.
It was a battle of intensity and willpower:
“Before this I felt comfortable, but as soon as I had this score, she came very hard and I could feel the danger,” she added. “Last year was hard, I didn't go to the Olympic Games, but I had some time off, and this year has been much better. The Gold at the Linz Grand Prix really motivated me and I felt so good today. Hearing 'European Champion' sounds really nice.”
From setback to supremacy, Seija's comeback story is a testament to resilience and passion. She's shown she’s a true force in the -57kg category.
Congratulations Seija – your hard work, dedication, and champion mindset make us incredibly proud. This is your moment, and Team IPPONGEAR is celebrating right beside you.
