Laura Vargas-Koch doesn't need to be at her best to win

Laura Vargas-Koch is one of the best in her category U70kg. Not just that she won the Grand Prix in Tashkent, she is able to deliver a constant form to compete in the final stage of any event. Although the opposition in Uzbekistan was average, the final phase always remain interesting. Her opponent was from Austria, the second Austrian athlete in one day.

Thus it was Bernadette Graf who the opponent of Graf. But this was not a golden day for Austria, as Bernadette Graf was defeated by the German after Koch engaged an o-uchi-gari that was turned into a uchi-mata for waza-ari just before the end of the final.

Vargas Koch declared: "I wouldn't say that it was my best competition day, but I was really concentrated and I took round after round to enter the final. Then in the final, I felt really good and confident. Everything went well and of course I am super happy with this victory on the international circuit."

The first bronze medal of the women’s -70kg was secured by Katarzyna KLYS (POL) against Nadia MERLI (BRA) with a single shido scored during the regular time. Lior WILDIKAN (ISR) and Maria PORTELA (BRA) were opposed for the second bronze medal of the category. A few seconds before the end of the bout, it seemed that both athletes would have to enter the golden score to decide the winner, when finally Maria PORTELA could immobilize her opponent with a tateshio-gatame for 20 seconds for ippon.