Expected favourites at judo women's U48kg

The women’s tournament at the first day of the Olympic Games in Tokyo started with a few surprises. Lin Chen-Hao of Taipeh was one of the sensations in this lightweight category and started with a surprising victory over Italy’s Francesca Milani. She proceeded in the second round and overcame Irina Dolgova of Russia, a seeded player.

Lin Chen-Hao lost against Distria Krasniqi who reached the semi final. Krasniqi will fight Urantsetseg Munkbat, that was less of a surprise, but in that pool the second seeded player lost. Julia Figueroa made the Spanish disaster complete. The Spanish had so many positive expectations for the first day with two world bronze medallists at the opening day. But both didn’t make it to the quarter final.

A clash between Ukraine prodigy Daria Bilodid and French Shirine Boukli was the expectation but Boukli lost her first round battle against Serbian Milica Nikolic. Bilodid steamed through the schedule and qualified for the semi final against Japanese rival Funa Tonaki. She beat her four time, but Tonaki took revanche this year and the score is 4-1.

Tonaki defeated Eva Csernoviczki of Hungary in the second round and Olympic Champion Paula Pareto in the quarter final.

If Bilodid can beat Tonaki this time, the Ukraine can enjoy its first Olympic medal for a woman. The 20 year youngster is double World Champion and can produce her first Olympic medal. Only Roman Gontyuk (2004 and 2008) and Ruslan Mashurenko (2000) took Olympic medals for the Ukraine.

Semi-finals

KRASNIQI, Distria (KOS) vs MUNKHBAT, Urantsetseg (MGL)

BILODID, Daria (UKR) vs TONAKI, Funa (JPN)

Repechage

LIN, Chen-Hao (TPE) vs RISHONY, Shira (ISR)

COSTA, Catarina (POR) vs PARETO, Paula (ARG)