Mao Izumi back with gold after four years gap

There were some big names in the U78kg category in Kazachstan, which is one of the most exciting categories on the circuit. At the top of the draw sheet, it was finally the Japanese Mao Izumi, pointing to a distant 153rd place in the world, who won her ticket to the final, by winning against Fanny-Estelle Posvite in the semi-final.

At the bottom of the table, Sampaio gave no chance to the opposition and in the semi-final she threw Malonga with will and determination to join Izumi in the final. So there was both a new wind and a wind of confirmation for the last contest in the category between Izumi and Sampaio.

Dangerous attacks and counter-attacks came from both sides but Sampaio clearly showed more capacities to throw, pushing her opponent to be penalised twice. However, there is something that everyone knows on the circuit: don't go into ne-waza with Japanese athletes or if you do make sure you are on top. Maybe Patricia Sampaio forgot about it when she got stuck under Izumi with only one foot trapped to save her. It was definitely not enough. The young Japanese athlete did not let her chance fly away. She pinned Sampaio for ippon and there is now a new Japanese name to add to the list of potential winners: Mao Izumi!

Madeleine Malonga (FRA) had the chance to console herself against Metka Lobnik (SLO) for a bronze medal. It didn't take long for Malonga to spring into action. After a few seconds, she scored a first waza-ari with her uchi-mata but it was downgraded to no-score as Lobnik didn't completely land at 90%. This was the most significant action of the contest, as the rest of the bout was a succession of penalties, Lobnik receiving her third shido before the end of normal time.

Lieke Derks (NED) and Fanny Estelle Posvite (FRA) battled for the second bronze medal. Posvite secured a seventh medal in a grand slam in only 25 seconds after a missed seoi-nage from Derks, Posvite keeping control of the arm to apply an armlock for ippon.