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Kayra Sayit takes her chances and gold at GP Budapest

Kayra Sayit takes her chances and gold at GP Budapest

14 Jun 2015 19:45
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

In her first appearance for Turkey Kayra Sayit won the gold medal at the Grand Prix of Budapest after beating African Championships winner Nihel Cheikh Rouhou of Tunisia in the women’s heavyweight final. Cheikh Rouhou was penalised with a shido for dropping down and that was the difference in the last women’s fight of the competition. The victory felt also a bit uncomfortable for the newly married Sayit who got the benefit of the doubt by the referee. Sayit apologised to Cheikh Rouhou at the podium.

Obviously we know Sayit as former French international Ketty Mathe who switched nation last year and married in February. With Galatasaray she won the European Club team title but with the French team she was highly succesful with World and Olympic team medals. She won herself a few World Cups in Rome and Moscow but couldn't get a fixed position at the major tournaments. For Turkey she does have that guarantee although the competition is tough in Turkey with Belkiz Kaya and Kocaturk, now named Gulsah Ozen.

In the first semi-final contest Olympic and world champion Idalys Ortiz (CUB) was undone by Sayit after a disappointing performance from the judoka wearing the gold backpatch since London 2012. In the second semi-final World Judo Masters bronze medallist Franziska Konitz was shocked by Cheikh Rouhou who was good value for her victory with two yuko scores going unanswered as Konitz could not impose herself.

 

The first bronze medal was claimed by Konitz who bested Minsk European Open bronze medallist Maryna Slutskaya (BLR) with a yuko from an ouchi-gari. The second bronze medal contest was won by Ortiz as Asian Championships bronze medallist Gulzhan Issanova (KAZ) was disqualified for accumulating four penalties.

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