Teenager Sarah Asahina catches Jeju victory aged 19

Teenager Asahina Sarah of Japan produced a sublime display as she won all five of her contests by ippon including the final against European Games bronze medallist Belkis Zehra Kaya (TUR). Former Junior world champion Asahina, who’s is world number 37 with her 19 years was supported by her parents in the crowd, was a breath of fresh air in the division with her ippon judo flowing all day long.

The Japanese youngster, who started practicing judo at the Kodokan, scored a yuko from a harai-makikomi and held down an overmatched Kaya with a kuzure-kesa-gatame for 20 seconds and the maximum score.

In the first semi-final Olympic champion Idalys Ortiz (CUB) lost out to Kaya with an underwhelming performance as she tends to save her best judo for the World Championships and Olympic Games as a big stage performer. Kaya secured her place in the final by waza-ari. In the second semi-final three-time Kodokan Cup winner Asahina bested Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Iryna Kindzerska (UKR) by ippon from a harai-goshi with 61 seconds remaining after the Ukrainian had received three shidos for passivity.

The first bronze medal was won by Kindzerska who overpowered Marine Erb (FRA) in their heavyweight duel. The Ukrainian took the lead with a yuko from a makikomi effort before holding down her rival for ippon as the young French fighter could find not find a way out and remained pinned to the tatami for 20 seconds. The second bronze medal was won by Kim Minjeong (KOR) who defeated Ortiz whose golden backpatch - as the London 2012 winner - is in jeopardy next year. Kim won on shido penalties 1:2 as Ortiz was penalised twice after a below-par outing.

Asahina is not the youngest IJF World Tour winner this year, in Tashkent another Japanese, Abe Hifumi won the men's category U66kg. Asahina is the youngest female winner this year, younger than Distria Krasniqi who settled the year record in Samsun in March.