Nabekura Nami defeats Megumi in Zagreb final U63kg

The final was 100% Japanese as Tsugane Megumi and Nabekura Nami both cleaned up their respective halves of the draw to guarantee two more medals for the Japanese team. This time it was the youngster Nabekuri who captured the gold at the Grand Prix in Zagreb.

Despite a fierce battle to grab the judogi, after fifty seconds a first shido for passivity was given to Tsugane. Before entering the last minute, Tsugane was again penalised but this time for a false attack as she dropped on her knees in front of Nabekura without putting her off balance. A few seconds later, Nabekura scored the first waza-ari of the final followed a few seconds later by a second waza-ari with a drop seoi-nage, to win the fourth gold medal for Japan here in Zagreb and her personal third medal on a Grand Prix.

The first bronze medal contest opposed Anriquelis Barrios (VEN) and Mia Hermansson (SWE). Hermansson entered the last minute with a waza-ari (o-uchi-gari) to her side but also two shido, putting her in a delicate situation as Barrios was pushing to score or force her opponent to be penalised for a third time. But Hermansson could finally control until the final gong to win a fifth medal in a Grand Prix.

In the second bronze medal contest Lea Reimann (GER) was opposed to Lucy Renshall (GBR). Renshall scored a first waza-ari with a superb koshi-waza technique on the edge of the competition area. Despite one shido on each side, the score didn't change until the end of the bout and Lucy Renshall won the second Grand Prix medal of her career.