Nami Nabekura upsets Agbegnenou in reverse of 2018 final

Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Nabekura Nami (JPN) defeated world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA) for the first time in a monumental victory to prise away the French superstar’s Masters crown. Nabekura showed her stamina to score on Agbegnenou after five minutes of additional time as the Japanese went under the world number one who marginally went over on her side for a waza-ari score.

World number six Nabekura, 22, reversed the result from a year ago to record a resounding win which has reopened the selection battle for Tokyo 2020. While Rio 2016 pick Tashiro has amassed a 1:11 record against Agbegnenou, Nabekura now boasts a 1:1 record and beat her teammate today in a dream day for the Hyogo native. 

In the first semi-final Agbegnenou beat Osaka Grand Slam winner Doi Masako (JPN) after 35 seconds of golden score by a waza-ari score as the Japanese was blocked by the French powerhouse.

In the second semi-final four-time world medallist Tashiro Miku (JPN) came undone against Nabekura by ippon after 25 seconds of golden score.

TRSTENJAK DEFEATED BY DOI

The first bronze medal contest was won by Tashiro who saw off world number 20 Tang Jing (CHN) by two waza-ari scores after as many minutes as an o-uchi-gari settled the opening contest of the final block on day two.

The second bronze medal was won by Doi who pinned the Olympic champion Tina Trstenjak (SLO) with a yoko-shiho-gatame for 20 seconds and one of the biggest contest wins of her career.