Final: Roza Gyertyas (HUN) vs Naomi Van Krevel (NED)
Roza Gyertyas was the author of an impressive preliminary session and the break before the final block didn’t dull her sparkle at all.
After less than two minutes of contest time, Guertyas applied a very well drilled turnover to secure the osaekomi she needed. She didn’t need to wait for the full 20 seconds as Naomi Van Krevel submitted.
Before leaving the arena with her new gold medal, Roza Gyertyas said, “After struggling to focus through my difficult first two contests, I treated the final like a regular contest, mentally, to stay relaxed and secure the grand prix gold. Having my family and coaches present provided vital motivation and power rather than pressure and I plan to celebrate my victory and postponed birthday with them.”
Bronze medal contest: Gultaj Mammadaliyeva (AZE) vs Ilaria Finestrone (ITA)
Mammadaliyeva’s physical strength proved to be a problem for Ilaria Finestrone. The Italian tried to attack but she was out-gripped and neutralised throughout and so she began to collect penalties. After two and half minutes she had two making the rest of her contest risky.
Being behind Finestrone had no choice but to come forward. As she did, Mammadaliyeva caught her for a yuko with a tidy ashi-waza. On the scoreboard it looks like a small lead but in practice, with only 30 seconds left, it’s a vast chasm. Gultaj Mammadaliyeva had done enough to win the bronze medal.
Bronze medal contest: Blandine Pont (FRA) vs Diyora Keldiyorova (UZB)
This was billed as a super-high-level contest and it did not disappoint. The first exchange showed how cautious both felt they needed to be, careful positioning and cagey gripping illustrating their caution.
Keldiyorova decided to take the initiative. She attacked with a fast seoi-otoshi and with no score being earned she popped her head out from underneath and spun into an immediate juji-gatame. It was an ippon win, an emotional first return to the World Judo Tour podium since having a baby not so long ago. Welcome back Diyora!
Final (-52 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-52 kg)
Final Results (-52 kg)
