Miku Takaichi back at world level with gold at Masters

In the final of the IJF World masters in Jerusalem in the women’s U63kg weight class Laura Fazliu was facing Miku Takaichi in the final, who won her ticket after defeating Barrios (VEN), meaning that no top 8 seed could make it to the final.

After 1 minute and 30 seconds in the final, Fazliu was penalised with a first shido for passivity. It's not that she was over-dominated but Takaichi was clearly more in control. With 40 seconds remaining, she proved to be the stronger competitor and controlled Fazliu to throw her for ippon. We will have to remember that name though; Laura Fazliu is stepping in to the world of top level judo and we will see her again. For the moment, the 2022 Masters champion is Miku Takaichi.

Bronze medals for Sharir and Szymanska

The first bronze medal contest opposed Katharina Haecker (AUS) and Gili Sharir (ISR). As it was the first match of the final block, the atmosphere was set up immediately with a high tone, particularly as Sharir entered the competition area. A first shido was quickly awarded to Haecker for stepping out of the tatami and a second penalty came right after for passivity. With 30 seconds left on the clock, after several attacks that were close to false attacks from Sharir, it was eventually Haecker who received the third shido for passivity, offering a deserved bronze medal to Sharir and to the host country. The public exploded with joy.

In the second bronze medal contest Angelika Szymanska (POL) faced Anriquelis Barrios (VEN). After a pretty balanced match, Szymanska scored ippon with an opportunist ko-uchi-gari that seemed to come from nowhere but it was there and it offered the first bronze medal at the Masters to Szymanska.

Prelims

World number one and winner in Abu Dhabi in October, Lucy Renshall did not convert the try. After a good start against Renata Zachova (CZE), she fell to Miku Takaichi (JPN) who moved on to the semi-final without being seeded. The Japanese fighter had a few cold sweats against Szofi Ozbas (HUN) in the previous round, but once fully launched nothing seemed to be able to stop her.

Facing her in the semi-final was one of the seeded survivors of the morning session, Anriquelis Barrios (VEN). Barrios had earlier reduced the medal hopes of Kerem Primo (ISR) and Khatarina Haecker (AUS) to ashes, two athletes who are regularly seen not far from the international podia. It must be said that there is nothing surprising about this, since the Masters brings together the best judoka on the planet, so even the unseeded competitors are top judoka.

In pool C, the road to the semi-final seemed clear for Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard. After a promising start to the competition, the Canadian was blocked by a Gili Sharir (ISR), who was on fire in front of her home crowd. Motivated like never before, Sharir eliminated all her opponents until she found herself facing Laura Fazliu (KOS). The young Kosovar may not yet have the experience of her elders but she already has the talent and after passing Sharir, she invited herself to the final. Is this the new Kosovar pearl? We will know soon. In the repechage Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard was eliminated by Szymanska (POL) in a tricky situation which revolves around timing. The Pole attacked with a ko-uchi and the Canadian attempted to counter with a tani-otoshi but it was deemed a little late and the score went to Szymanska leaving Beauchemin-Pinard to finish in seventh place.