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Teenage world champion Abe Uta makes golden start to her season

Teenage world champion Abe Uta makes golden start to her season

24 May 2019 15:15
Mark Pickering - IJF
IJF Gabriela Sabau / International Judo Federation

World champion and 2018 Hohhot Grand Prix winner Abe Uta (JPN) defeated world number eight Evelyne Tschopp (SUI) with a textbook uchi-mata to win her third Grand Prix title. The 18-year-old, who was making her first start of the season, scored ippon with her favoured technique after 90 seconds to extend her winning streak to 37 contests on the IJF World Judo Tour.

In the first semi-final Abe defeated Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Gefen Primo (ISR) by ippon while in the second semi-final Tschopp squeezed past world number six Gili Cohen (ISR) by a waza-ari score to advance into the final.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Ecaterina Guica (CAN) after Cohen, who initially led with a waza-ari score, sustained a knee injury after being thrown for a waza-ari score and could no longer continue.

The second bronze medal was won by teenager Primo who stunned three-time world medallist Andreea Chitu (ROU) by fighting from the a deficit of a waza-ari score to throw for ippon to send her coach Shany Hershko out of his chair in jubilation.