Belkis Kaya grabs gold for Tessie Savelkouls

Former Baku Grand Slam silver medallist Belkis Zehra KAYA (TUR) showed true quality to stand on top of the podium in the women’s heavyweight category. World number 40 KAYA was unstoppable as she won all four contests by ippon including the final against 2014 Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Tessie SAVELKOULS (NED) with a harai-makikomi earning ippon.

In the first semi-final KAYA humbled compatriot and Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix silver medallist Gulsah KOCATURK (TUR). The contest was won on the ground as KAYA employed kansetsu-waza to leave KOCATURK no option but to submit. In the second semi-final SAVELKOULS bested Tallin European Open bronze medallist Santa PAKENYTE (LTU). SAVELKOULS had the advantage as PAKENYTE was penalised twice for going out of the area and scored a waza-ari before wrapping up the win with a kami-shiho-gatame from which the Lithuanian elected to submit.

The first bronze medal was won by number one seed Franziska KONITZ (GER) who showed her consistency as she graced one more IJF medal podium by taking down PAKENYTE with a forceful ouchi-gari for ippon after 25 seconds. The classy German directed her opponent back towards to centre of the tatami and could then focus her attentions on watching her teammate in the next contest. The second bronze medal was also destined for Germany as Samsun Grand Prix bronze medallist Jasmin KUELBS (GER) conquered KOCATURK as she maintained her tate-shiho-gatame hold for 15 seconds after opening the scoring with a waza-ari.