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Golden Uta Abe dominates Judo Grand Slam

Golden Uta Abe dominates Judo Grand Slam

5 Mar 2021 20:30
IJF Media Department
IJF Robin Willingham / International Judo Federation

The question at the start of the competition was clearly: who could really oppose the reigning world champion and big favourite for the Olympic title this summer, Abe Uta Abe answered the question quickly in Tashkent. Even when lacking competition and sometimes a bit of rhythm, which did not allow her to win all her fights by ippon, Abe qualified for the final without any real concern.

Like her compatriot in the lower category, the Mongolian Lkhagvasuren Sosorbaram, junior world champion in 2019, had a chance to face Abe in the final, but due to an injury she had to let her gold medal dream go and Abe, without any extra effort, stepped on top of the medal podium.

Fabienne Kocher (SUI), second at Grand Slam Hungary last October, which marked the restart of the World Judo Tour, met Nadezda Petrovic (SRB), ranked at a distant 96, to form the 100% European duo of the first bronze medal match.

Two other continents were represented in the contest for a second bronze medal, in the shape of Jeong Bokyeong (KOR) and Brazilian Larissa Pimenta. Their match showed the different national styles of judo and offered a tactical game that was different from matches seen earlier in the category.

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