Home heroics steers Stoll to German gold

German talent Theresa Stoll stunned Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Dorjsuren Sumiya of Mongolia for a sensational home victory in the U57kg final. World number 27 Stoll, an ippon seoi-nage specialist, was a surprise finalist but the greatest shock was still to come as the game German not only took Dorjsuren into golden score but countered the Ulaanbaatar judoka after one minute for a match-winning waza-ari.

Five-time Grand Prix winner Dorjsuren, 25, whose life story has been told in a special film in Mongolia, has extended her lead at the helm of the U57kg rankings but 700 points for Stoll and a maiden Grand Prix crown is a dream start to 2017. 

The 21-year old Stoll said: “It all feels like a dream to me, I could not believe I was in the final against Dorjsuren. I talked to my sister after my semi-final win and was able to regain my composure to come out for the final. It is difficult to put into words what I am feeling right now but I cannot wait for my next event and I hope to challenge at the European Championships this year.”

In the first semi-final Dorjsuren bested former world champion Udaka Nae (JPN) who received a third shido for passivity and therefore hansoku-make. Both judoka had two shidos and no scores to their names until the Japanese committed one mistake too many to be relegated into the repechage while Dorjsuren advanced into the final. In the second semi-final home judoka Stoll defeated Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Jovana Rogic (SRB) after a minute of golden score with a ko-soto-gake yielding ippon. Neither judoka had the edge in regulation time but the German Stoll took the initiative in added time to seal a place in the gold medal contest.

The first bronze medal was won by Rogic who thwarted Qingdao Grand Prix winner Anastasiia Konkina (RUS) with a waza-ari score which was the only score in the four minute contest as Serbia got off the mark on day one in Germany.      

The second bronze medal was won by Udaka in just 40 seconds as she blasted her way onto the podium against Tyumen Grand Slam silver medallist Daria Mezhetckaia (RUS). Udaka drove past her opponent with her trademark osoto-gari for ippon as Russia were left disappointed in both -57kg bronze medal contests.