Erika Miranda shines at Grand Slam Baku

World number three Erika MIRANDA (BRA) beat world number two Andreea CHITU (ROU) to stand on top of the medal podium and see the Brazilian flag raised at the Sarhadchi Olympic Sport Centre. Pan American Champion MIRANDA defeated Zagreb Grand Prix winner CHITU, who turned 27 on Friday, with a stunning piece of shime-waza. CHITU failed with an ambitious ashi-waza attempt and fell forwards onto her knees after her ouchi-gari attack as MIRANDA locked on the choke with 65 seconds left and the Romanian had no choice but to submit.

Brazilian coach Rosicleia CAMPOS said: “That was a very important win for Erika as many times she has lost in the final on the world level. Erika has won the Pan American Championships three times so gold on the international stage is what she really wanted today. Now we will go to Tokyo for a camp at the National Training Centre.”

In the first semi-final CHITU overwhelmed Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla GNETO (FRA) with a clinical display. GNETO, who had looked full of confidence in the preliminary rounds, was beaten by ippon after two minutes. French star GNETO has fallen behind Annabelle EURANIE (FRA) in the domestic pecking order and had to enter the repechage to try and win what would be her first IJF medal since taking silver in Baku a year ago. In the second semi-final MIRANDA outshone Tbilisi Grand Prix winner Jaana SUNDBERG (FIN) but required added time to see off the high-quality Finn. MIRANDA, who as always was urged on by the ever-animated coach Rosicleia CAMPOS, booked her place in the final with a waza-ari score after 25 seconds of added time.

The first bronze medal was clinched by Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Distria KRASNIQI (KOS) who looks at home in the -52kg category as she claimed her first Grand Slam medal. KRASNIQI, who is still only 19, opened the scoring with a waza-ari from an ouchi-gari before beaten semi-finalist SUNDBERG pulled back a yuko with a makikomi effort. That is where the scoring ended and Kosovo’s -52kg number two received a warm embrace from coach Driton TONI KUKA. The second bronze medal was won by GNETO who returned to form by defeating Zagreb Grand Prix silver medallist Yulia RYZHOVA (RUS). GNETO floored her opponent with a tani-otoshi which started off the area and the referee had already called a stop to the action. RYZHOVA was penalised twice while GNETO was only penalised once and that decided who would occupy final spot on the podium.