Japan’s Yoko Ono beats France’s Pinot to gold
World bronze medallist Ono Yoko (JPN) won her third Grand Slam title at the expense of Osaka Grand Slam bronze medallist Margaux Pinot (FRA). A nervy contest was settled by penalties in golden score when the home judoka was penalised for the third and final time for leaving the area and the gold medal was gifted to world number 12 Ono.
In the first semi-final two-time Grand Prix winner Barbara Timo (POR) lost out to Ono by ippon. In the second semi-final World Judo Masters gold medallist Niizoe Saki (JPN) was surprised by Pinot by ippon.
The first bronze medal was won by Niizoe who launched World Championships silver medallist Marie-Eve Gahie (FRA) with a uchi-mata for a world-class ippon.
The second bronze medal contest featured Timo and Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Assmaa Niang (MAR) and it was the former – on her debut for Portugal – who held down her opponent in osaekomi to make an immediate impression on the world stage.
Result | City | Date |
---|---|---|
2 | Paris | 30 Jul |
1 | Abu Dhabi | 21 May |
1 | Zagreb | 26 Apr |
3 | Belgrade | 2023 |
2 | Montpellier | 2023 |