Automne Pavia ends the year with gold in Jeju

French World bronze medallist Automne Pavia had the measure of teammate and Budapest Grand Prix silver medallist Helene Receveaux (FRA) along with the remainder of U57kg category on Thursday.

The Frenchwoman took control with a harai-goshi earning a yuko score before adding a waza-ari with an osoto-gari which Receveaux led herself into. Receveaux battled and registered a score as she countered a loose effort from Pavia for a yuko but the result was never in doubt.

In the first semi-final Pavia downed former world bronze medallist Vlora Bedeti (SLO) by the narrowest of margins. Bedeti received three shido penalties which was one more than her French opponent who failed to produce a score in their four minute contest. In the second semi-final Receveaux defeated Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Camila Minakawa (ISR) by ippon after 51 seconds as she ensured the final would come down to France’s -57kg duo.

The first bronze medal was won by former Rome European Open silver medallist Ivelina Ilieva (BUL) who secured a place on an IJF medal podium for the first time. Ilieva defeated beaten semi-finalist Minakawa as a result of a solitary shido in a scoreless contest. The second bronze medal was won by Bedeti as national champion Stefanie Tremblay (CAN) was disqualified for receiving four penalties. World number 28 Tremblay was penalised for the fourth and final time for going out of the area as her Slovenian foe clinched the final spot on the -57kg podium.