Larisa Ceric prolongs title at Zagreb Grand Prix

The two top seeded athletes of the category Larisa Ceric of Bosnia Herzegovina and Santa Pakenyte (LTU) qualified for the +78 category in Zagreb’s Grand Prix. She prolonged last year's title in Zagreb and takes the 700 points, the medal and the cheque.

After one minute, Ceric was the first in action as she scored a first waza-ari with a makikomi technique, while Pakenyte was also penalised with a shido. In less than a minute, Pakenyte changed the score to 1-1 by scoring also a waza-ari. With only five seconds left on the scoreboard, Ceric launched a last attack that failed but that she could immediately follow with an arm-bar for ippon.

The first bronze medal contest opposed the 2015 World Junior silver medallist, Camila Yamakawa (BRA) and three times Grand Slam gold medalist Inamori Nami (JPN). In less than two minutes, the Japanese imposed her rhythm and concluded with an immobilisation for ippon to win a second bronze medal on the occasion of a Grand Prix.

The second bronze medal match saw Sarah Adlington (GBR) opposed to Anne Fatoumata M Bairo (FRA), as both were not among the top seeded athletes of the day. In a little bit more than one minute, the French, who was put in danger a couple of times earlier during the match, scored a waza-ari with a counterattack, immediately followed with an immobilisation for ippon to win her very first medal on the IJF World Judo Tour.