Kim Polling still too much for Van Dijke

Former World number one Kim Polling of the Netherlands claimed her fourth Grand Slam title with a key win over teammate and world number eight Sanne Van Dijke in the U70kg final in Abu Dhabi. The Three-time World Judo Masters champion overpowered Van Dijke - who had prepared for the Grand Slam by training at the Welsh Judo Association’s national dojo in Cardiff alongside former world number one Natalie Powell (GBR) - with an emphatic o-soto-gari for ippon after two minutes.

In the first semi-final Polling showed her immense quality against world number 22 Elvismar Rodriguez (VEN) who was thrown first with ashi-waza and then with a yoko-tomoe-nage to earn a place in the gold medal contest.

In the second semi-final Van Dijke rushed past world number six Michaela Polleres (AUT) by two scores without reply to book an all-Dutch final.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Polleres who lifted European Games bronze medallist Barbara Matic (CRO) up and over with a gigantic ura-nage for ippon after exactly two minutes of golden score.

The second bronze medal was won by Rodriguez who planted Olympic bronze medallist Sally Conway (GBR) with a huge makikomi effort to beat the Briton for the first time. Tokai University member Rodriguez defeated the world number three far too easily with Conway nowhere near her best today.