Momo Tamaoki earns first Grand Slam gold while Yoshida finishes fifth

Three-time Grand Prix winner Tamaoki Momo of Japan defeated world number eight Lien Chen-Ling (TPE) to open her Grand Slam gold medal account on home soil. Tamaoki has form on the Grand Slam stage with five medals to her name before today but the Japanese number two claimed top spot for the first time at the expense of 2017 Baku Grand Slam winner Lien.

The world number 12 powered forward for a waza-ari score and held down her opponent from Chinese Taipei with a kami-shiho-gatame hold for 10 seconds and Osaka Grand Slam gold.

In the first semi-final world silver medallist and former world champion Yoshida Tsukasa (JPN) was surprised by Tamaoki by a waza-ari score after three minutes of added time.

In the second semi-final Lien pinned down Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist Funakubo Haruka (JPN) in golden score for 20 seconds with a sankaku-gatame. Japan-based Lien, who is a member of the Komatsu company team, beat her fellow ne-waza specialist on the ground to secure a place in a Grand Slam final for the second time in her career.

The first bronze medal was awarded to former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Dorjsuren Sumiya (MGL) who narrowly defeated Funakubo with a scrappy waza-ari score. The Mongolian took full advantage of the young Japanese judoka being off balance to push her over with te-waza in added time to win bronze for Mongolia.

The second bronze medal was won by 2018 Osaka Grand Slam winner Jessica Klimkait (CAN) with a hard-fought triumph over former world champion Yoshida. Klimkait dropped under her rival for a waza-ari score on the edge of the area and saw out the remaining time to record arguably the most important result of her career.