Gili Cohen takes gold in Tbilisi against returning Olympic bronze medallist
Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Gili Cohen (ISR) was the best performer in the -52kg category as she was triumphant against London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Rosalba Forciniti (ITA) who was only competing for the second time since London. Forciniti, 28, who won the Rome European Open in October, was the aggressor in the opening stages but grew frustrated as her attacks failed to trouble the scoreboard and was penalised with a shido for a false attack which was decisive after four minutes of scoreless action.
In the first semi-final FORCINITI neutralised the significant attacking prowess of Dusseldorf Grand Prix winner Natalia KUZIUTINA (RUS). Both judoka received a shido for passivity and, as the contest went on the Italian grew in confidence, which meant there was a feeling of inevitability as her opponent picked up a second shido for the same reason and that separated them after four minutes. In the second semi-final COHEN showed her tenacity by outworking (ISR) Warsaw European Open bronze medallist Tetiana LEVYTSKA (UKR). Both judoka each scored a waza-ari and there was nothing to separate them until the Ukrainian fighter was penalised with a shido to send her into the repechage.
The first bronze medal was clinched by LEVYTSKA who overshadowed teammate and Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Oleksandra STARKOVA (UKR). The latter received a shido for going out of the area before LEVYTSKA took control with a yuko and then a waza-ari before receiving her own shido for going out of the area but by that point she was already out of reach.The second bronze medal was won by KUZIUTINA as her colleague and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gold medallist Yulia RYZHOVA (RUS) could not compete due to injury.
Result | City | Date |
---|---|---|
3 | Belgrade | 2023 |
2 | Montpellier | 2023 |
3 | Budapest | 2023 |
1 | Doha | 2023 |
1 | Paris | 2023 |
Result | City | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | Tashkent | 2 Mar |
1 | Paris | 3 Feb |
1 | Budapest | 2023 |
2 | Tokyo | 2023 |
5 | Montpellier | 2023 |