German final U52 with Kraeh who makes her return at the podium

The German team started well at day one of the Grand Prix of Budapest with a gold medal for Mareen Kraeh. It meant the first of twelve medals for the Germans in Hungary. Former world bronze medallist Mareen Kraeh showed why she entered the competition as the top seed with a high-quality display in Budapest. Maria Ertl was her opponent in the U52kg final. Erlt was European Open bronze medallist in Minsk and started the contest by receiving a shido for an overly defensive posture. The first score of the contest came with just 14 seconds remaining when Kraeh earned a yuko with a low uchi-mata and Ertl failed to give an answer.

In the first semi-final Kraeh defeated returning Astana Grand Prix winner Joana Ramos (POR) who had recovered from a groin strain to take part today. The German fighter was a clear winner with a yuko and then ippon guiding her into the final. In the second semi-final Ertl defeated Elena Moretti (ITA) by a yuko score to book an all-German final.

The first bronze medal was clinched by Tbilisi Grand Prix bronze medallist Laura Gomez (ESP) against Moretti who was competing on the World Judo Tour for the first time since 2013. Gomez led with a yuko and added a waza-ari with 10 seconds remaining and transitioned into osaekomi from which Moretti tapped out. The second bronze medal was won by Ramos who made a successful return from injury with victory against Jeju Grand Prix bronze medallist Gili Cohen (ISR). Ramos had an advantage when Cohen was penalised with a shido early on and never looked back from there as she added a waza-ari and wrapped up a fine result with osaekomi-waza for 15 seconds.