Cuban judo star Idalys Ortiz wants to stitch a new golden backpatch again

Olympic champion Idalys Ortiz of Cuba captured the IJF Masters title in Guadalajara. Ortiz has won two world titles since being crowned at London 2012 and is now the overwhelming favourite to retain her Olympic crown and golden backpatch in Rio. Ortiz, 26, is a big stage performer and took the fight to world number three Ma Sisi (CHN) who could be identified by her newly-dyed purple hair.

Ortiz failed with an audacious drop seoi-nage before both judoka were penalised for passivity after a series of low-key exchanges. Cuban power settled the final as Ortiz took control with a waza-ari and held down Ma with a kami-shiho-gatame for 15 seconds and gold.

In the semi-finals Ortiz downed Nihel Cheikh Rouhou (TUN) by ippon after three minutes while in the second semi-final Japan were dealt another heavyweight blow as Rio-bound Yamabe Kanae (JPN) fell by ippon to Ma.

The first bronze medal was won by Yamabe who bounced back from defeat to deny European Championships silver medallist Svitlana Iaromka (UKR) by ippon after 90 seconds. The second bronze medal was won by Almaty Grand Prix bronze medallist Larisa Ceric (BIH) who won the finest medal of her career at the expense of Cheikh Rouhou by ippon in the second minute.