Sabina Giliazova wins her first Grand Prix

Russian lightweight Sabina Giliazova opened the Grand Prix inTashkent in the final for the Russian team against Leyla Aliyeva of Azerbaijan. Less than a minute was needed for the Russian to win her first gold medal in a Grand Prix.

While Aliyeva launched a first o-uchi-gari that did not bother Giliazova, the latter, well camped on her legs, had only to turn the shoulders, and put her leg to block Aliyeva and use her momentum to literally incrust her into the tatami, for a crystal clear Ippon. Good, very good judo!

The first bronze medal contest opposed, the three time bronze medallist Katharina Menz (GER) and Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Melodie Vaugarny (FRA). The Frenchwoman was the first in action after a great job at the end of the sleeves, which allowed her to trigger a magnificent low tai-otoshi to lead with a first waza-ari. Always on the attack before her opponent, Vaugarny made her opponent penalized for passivity. Menz, who then launched a desperate left handed hip movement, but the attack was sorely lacking control in the upper body and Vaugarny immediately countered for an unstoppable Ippon who offered her first medal in a Grand Prix.

The second bronze medal match did not offer much suspense, as Maryna Cherniak (UKR) sent Shushila Devi Likmabam (IND) twice on the mat, on precise counter attacks to step in the podium.