Magdalena Krssakova breaks through all barriers in Tbilisi

The final of the women’s U63kg in Tbilisi saw Edwige Gwend of Italy and the bronze medal of the last Zagreb Grand Prix in 2016, Magdalena Krssakova of Austria fighting for gold. With that final, the Italian could already expect a better result than last year, as she finished third on the occasion of the 2016 edition of the Tbilisi Grand Prix.

Both competitors entered the last minute of the final with one shido. But less active than her opponent, Gwend was penalised again in the last second. As the penalties do not count anymore at the end of the first four minutes, it was time for the golden score. It is generally the moment, that athletes chose to accelerate in order to try to catch their opponent by surprise and that’s what they actually did but with no score during the first minute of extra time, despite a very strong attack from the Austrian, that was initially counted as waza-ari but then cancelled. Motivated as never before Krssakova continued to push Gwend and took the opportunity of a weak action from the Italian to counter her for waza-ari and a surprising victory.

The first bronze medal match to be displayed on the tatami of the New Sports Arena opposed Nekoda Smythe-Davis (GBR) and Andreja Leski (SLO). The Slovenian needed 30 seconds to win her third Grand Prix medal as she combined a powerful standing action immediately followed with a shime-waza technique for a clear ippon.

In the second bronze medal fight Kamila Badurova (RUS) was opposed to the winner of the last Tokyo Grand Slam, Kathrin Unterwurzacher (AUT). Top seed of the category, the Austrian was hoping for a final again here in Tbilisi but contrary to her teammate, Krssakova, who surprisingly reached the final, she could not win against Edwige Gwend in the semifinal. Favorite of the bronze medal match, Unterwurzacher concluded with a superb piece of groundwork and an osae-komi-waza for ippon, winning her 11th Grand Prix medal!