Belgium’s Van Snick signals arrival at U52kg after first Grand Slam win

Belgian Charline Van Snick accomplished a career first to put her rivals on notice as the long-time U48kg star won her first Grand Slam gold medal. World number three Erika Miranda (BRA), one of the most consistent judoka in the category, took bronze at the World Championships in August but was not prepared for Tashkent Grand Prix bronze medallist Van Snick.

The Belgian who moved up in December 2016, is now establishing herself at -52kg. The Belgian won her first IJF gold medal since Dusseldorf 2015 by surprisingly submitting the Brazilian on the ground.

In the first semi-final Miranda countered Cancun Grand Prix bronze medallist Angelica Delgado (USA) with a ura-nage for ippon. In the second semi-final Van Snick beat Gili Cohen (IJF) by two waza-ari scores in a one-sided contest.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Cohen who beat European Championships bronze medallist Joana Ramos (POR) with an ippon-seoi-nage in golden score. After 57 seconds of added time Cohen usurped her opponent by throwing for a match and medal-winning waza-ari score.

The second bronze medal was won by Baku Grand Slam winner and world number nine Alexandra-Larisa Florian (ROU) against Delgado. The Romanian put on a sensational display to seal a place on the medal podium by throwing with a sasae-tsurikomi-ashi for a waza-ari and added a second with another ashi-waza movement before wrapping up win by ippon with a uchi-mata.

Read more about the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi