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Ana Velensek victorious for Slovenia in Zagreb

Ana Velensek victorious for Slovenia in Zagreb

14 Sep 2014 18:30
by Mark Pickering - IJF
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

The Grand Prix of Zagreb featured two of the top performers from Chelyabinsk as world bronze medallist Anamari VELENSEK (SLO) and world silver medallist Krisztian TOTH (HUN) were both closely watched in Zagreb.

Two household names clashed in the -78kg category in world bronze medallist Anamari VELENSEK (SLO) and European bronze medallist Abigel JOO (HUN). Paris Grand Slam winner VELENSEK, 23, made sure she won back-to-back Grand Prix in Croatia but had to come from behind to do it after JOO scored a waza-ari. VELENSEK was alert on the ground while JOO had a lapse in concentration as she failed to realise the extent of the danger she was in as the Slovenian come round the front with a koshi-jime to force JOO to submit.  
 
In the first semi-final top seed VELENSEK defeated Commonwealth Games winner Natalie POWELL (GBR) by a waza-ari which was scored two minutes into the contest. POWELL had her moments but VELENSEK had more about her and was the form fighter. In the second semi-final JOO conquered Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist Catherine ROBERGE (CAN) with a crowd-pleasing uchi-mata which had elevation and overwhelmed the Canadian after just 64 seconds.
 
The first bronze medal was won by Tbilisi Grand Prix silver medallist Victoriia TURKS (UKR) who was separated from seven-time continental championships medallist ROBERGE in golden score. The scoreless contest was settled after 55 seconds of added time when ROBERGE was penalised for passivity. The second bronze medal contest was won by POWELL who secured Britain’s second medal in Zagreb after bronze medallist Gemma HOWELL (GBR) got them off the mark on Saturday. POWELL defeated French youngster and Paris Grand Slam silver medallist Madeleine MALONGA (FRA) to maintain her perfect record in their head-to-head series with three wins. MALONGA was penalised after seven seconds for going out of the area and received a second shido for the same reason but POWELL locked her up on the ground to see out the closing seconds. 
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