Austria cherishes gold in Baku by Unterwurzacher

World number five Kathrin UNTERWURZACHER (AUT) won her country’s first gold medal at the Baku Grand Slam on Saturday. The determined Austrian defeated Tbilisi Grand Prix bronze medallist Martyna TRAJDOS (GER) to banish the memories of her 2014 silver medal and started her road to victory with a yuko score. UNTERWURZACHER confirmed victory when she quickly stretched out her leading leg and turned TRAJDOS with force to send her over for ippon.

Unterwurzacher said: “Today was a very good day for me, I’m very happy. I am always so proud to hear my anthem and that that means so much to me. I will now focus on my next competition which is the World Judo Masters.”

In the first semi-final Trajdos overcame Samsun Grand Prix winner Anicka Van Emden NED) who missed the Zagreb Grand Prix last weekend through sickness. Trajdos scored two waza-ari without reply to shock Van Emden who, while by own her own admission is not at full strength, would return for a tilt at bronze. In the second semi-final Unterwurzacher defeated in-form Samsun Grand Prix bronze medallist Alice Schlesinger (GBR). The British fighter has hit the ground running in 2015 but lost out on this occasion to her Austrian foe who won by a waza-ari which was the only score of the tightly-contested meeting.  

The first bronze medal was won by SCHLESINGER who is thriving in the British team. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Agata OZDOBA (POL) had to settle for fifth-place as she did a week ago in Zagreb as SCHLESINGER was successful courtesy of a solitary yuko which was the only score of the four minute contest. The second bronze medal was claimed by VAN EMDEN, who despite not feeling 100%, showed her fortitude to overcome Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Ketleyn QUADROS (BRA). VAN EMDEN still had power in abundance as she threw QUADROS, who moved up from -57kg to the -63kg category in February, with a sode-tsurikomi-goshi for a waza-ari score. The Dutch talent followed up with a tight kesa-gatame for a second and match-winning waza-ari.