Brazil’s Maria Portela enjoys career-best result

Brazilian Maria Portela saved the best day of her career thus far for the last day of IJF competition in 2017 as the Brazilian surged through the field to top spot. Judo Sogipa ace and Rio 2016 Olympian Portela defeated European bronze medallist Barbara Matic (CRO) in a surprisingly one-sided contest between two judoka who were already assured of their first World Judo Masters silverware.

Stocky Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Portela sent over her Croatian opponent with te-waza as she anticipated the forward movement of her opponent and followed up with osaekomi after a hard-fought contest.

In the first semi-final world number five Marie Eve Gahie (FRA) fell to Matic by two waza-ari scores in a commanding and convincing showing from the Croatian. In the second semi-final Portela defeated Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Anna Bernholm (SWE) by a waza-ari score to power into the U70kg final.

The first bronze medal contest saw Bernholm outperform European u23 Championships bronze medallist Aleksandra Samardzic (BIH) with two waza-ari scores. The Swede has transformed her career since moving up to the -70kg category and completed her best season by overwhelming Samardzic.

The second bronze medal contest featured two French judoka as Gahie defeated compatriot and former world bronze medallist Fanny Estelle Posvite (FRA). After 68 seconds of golden score, the scoreless contest was brought to it its conclusion when 2015 World Judo Masters bronze medallist Posvite received a third shido for dropping.

Read all the news about the IJF World Masters in St. Petersburg.