Christa Deguchi completes Paris treble

Unstoppable world champion Christa Deguchi (CAN) ruled in Paris for the third year in a row as the world number one dispatched former world champion Dorjsuren Sumiya (MGL) in the U57kg final. Deguchi earned her fourth Grand Slam title overall by catching Dorjsuren with a tomoe-nage for a waza-ari score and comfortably saw out her advantage to start her season with a customary gold in France.

The owner of red backpatch in one of judo’s marquee weight categories took it all in her stride as she marches on towards the Olympics and has undoubtedly been pencilled in as the favourite this summer in Japan where she still resides. 

In the first semi-final Deguchi defeated world number 10 Sarah Leonie Cysique (FRA) at the halfway point by the maximum score to power her way into the gold medal contest.

In the second semi-final Olympic bronze medallist Telma Monteiro (POR) came undone against Dorjsuren after receiving hansoku-make having narrowly avoided the same fate in her quarter-final.

The first bronze medal was won by world number six Tamaoki Momo (JPN) as Monteiro was unable to compete having been disqualified in her previous contest.           

The second bronze medal was won by Tel Aviv Grand Prix bronze medallist Nora Gjakova (KOS) who pinned Cysique with a sankaku-gatame for 20 seconds and ippon as Kosovo made a major impression on day one in Paris.