Savelkouls sees the Netherlands home ahead of The Hague Grand Prix

Baku Grand Slam winner Tessie Savelkouls of the Netherlands provided heavyweight gold with a win against world bronze medallist Iryna Kindzerska (AZE) to move her country up to second in the medal table.

The Netherlands hit the medal trail in Abu Dhabi and can now look forward to their Grand Prix in November with great expectations and especially after the positive medal-winning displays from their youngsters a week ago in Zagreb, Croatia at the Junior World Championships. Number two seed Savelkouls defeated Kindzerska by shido penalties when the Azeri was given a third for a false attack.

In the first semi-final Savelkouls defeated Ekaterinburg Grand Slam silver medallist Jasmin Kuelbs (GER). The German heavyweight offered a toothless performance as she picked up three shidos in as many minutes to receive hansoku-make. In the second semi-final Kindzerska defeated former Tokyo Grand Slam bronze medallist Ksenia Chibisova (RUS) by ippon after only 25 seconds with an ouchi-gari.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Pan American champion Beatriz Souza (BRA) who conquered Chibisova by ippon to win her first medal on the IJF World Judo Tour. The 19-year-old Brazilian is a judoka on the rise and looks set to become a long-term feature for her country during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle.

The second bronze medal was won by two-time world silver medallist Maria Suelen Altheman (BRA) with her trademark harai-makikomi earning a waza-ari to defeat Kuelbs after four minutes.

The Grand Prix in The Hague will be the next event where qualification points can be captured. Watch the promo for The Hague Grand Prix