Christa Deguchi wants to stunt in Japan

Is it going to be a historic day for Canada. Christa Deguchi is eager to win the first ever world title for Canada on day three of the World Championships on Japanese soil. Obviously Japanese World champion Yoshida Tsukasa is the favourite as current title holder, but she lost to Deguchi in the final of the Grand Slam in Paris, so it’s all possible as the morning session was completed.

Deguchi defeated Sarah Leonie Cysique in the quarter final but is in good shape. She defeated German medal potential Theresa Stoll and Anna Borowska of Poland. In the first round she defeated the oldest athlete of the World Championships, Sabrina Filzmoser and will now face Nora Gjakova in the repechage final.

Yoshida won all three of her contests in pool A to seal a semi-final berth. Yoshida was tested by Julia Kowalczyk (POL) who picked up a waza-ari score before the home favourite registered her second and match-winning score. The polish is out for a medal as she looks sharp and Poland has a reputation in the women’s division and Kowalczyk wants to follow up the success of last year (U63kg) to take a bronze medal for her country.

Olympic champion Rafaela Silva (BRA) ruled Pool B to book a semi-final clash with the world champion. She defeated Telma Monteiro of Portugal and Russian European Champion Daria Mezhetskaia.

Montreal Grand Prix winner Deguchi Christa rushed through the preliminary rounds to set up a semi-final duel against surprise package Ivelina Ilieva (BUL) who shocked Nora Gjakova (KOS) in the quarter-finals. Ilieva  also shocked Kim Ji-Su (KOR) who just overcame Nekoda Smythe Davis. In the first round Ilieva caught Karakas of Hungary. The biggest name of them all was Jessica Klimkait. SHe was in a tough pool with Rafaela SIlva, but already lost in her first match against European Champion Mezhetskaia. A big blow for her as Deguchi seems to make steps in Tokyo.