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Guusje Steenhuis grabs fourth Grand Slam victory

Guusje Steenhuis grabs fourth Grand Slam victory

30 Oct 2016 21:40
by Mark Pickering - IJF
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

Dutch Guusje Steenhuis recorded her fourth Grand Slam victory with a gritty display in Abu Dhabi. Steenhuis, European Championships silver medallist, has now won seven medals in a row as she has left no doubt over who is the Netherlands’ top -78kg judoka having missed out on Rio 2016 to Marhinde Verkerk.

On her Grand Slam debut Junior European Championships winner Anna Maria Wagner (GER) showed her untapped potential at the highest level as she only lost to Steenhuis who took silver at the Zagreb Grand Prix last time out in September. The Dutch star scored a yuko from an ouchi-gari in a professional performance even if she was disappointed to only win by that slender margin.

In the first semi-final Steenhuis could not break the stubborn resistance of Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Sama Hawa Camara (FRA). The young Frenchwoman was penalised twice while Steenhuis was only reprimanded once and safely advanced into the gold medal contest. In the second semi-final Samsun Grand Prix winner Madeleine Malonga (FRA) lost to Wagner on shido penalties. The French fighter was penalised three times while her German opponent posted an unblemished record to book a fascinating final against Steenhuis.

The first bronze medal was won by Tallinn European Open silver medallist Samanta Soares (BRA) who beat Malonga who knew that it was a contest that she should have won. The athletic Frenchwoman was penalised twice while former Rio Grand Slam silver medallist Soares was penalised once. The contest lacked rhythm and attacking intent from both judoka as the shidos determined the winner and provided one more medal for Brazil.

The second bronze medal contest was won by former Junior European Championships winner Anastasiya Turchyn (UKR) who prevailed against Camara by a single shido as both bronze medals surprisingly escaped the clutches of the French women’s team who had thrived on day one and two.

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