Chelsie Giles sets the target for Doha Worlds

Finalist of the World Judo Masters, also in Israel in December, winner of the Portuguese Grand Prix in January, world number three; there do not seem to be many athletes on the circuit able to stop Chelsie Giles (GBR). Maybe Distria Krasniqi has the possibility but the she was not present in Tel Aviv after her clear victory in Paris.

At the first day of the Grand Prix in Tel Aviv only Ana Perez Box remained, to prevent Giles from climbing to the top of the podium. With Astrid Gneto (FRA) having been taken out of the competition quickly, the draw opened up for the Spaniard, who did not miss her chance.

Quickly there was a perfume of uchi-mata in the air, with Giles using her long levers to impose her right-handed kumi-kata. With small action-reaction moves she started to prepare her attacks, but it was on the ground with a triangular entry and an immobilisation that she eventually concluded the final to win a gold medal that seemed destined for her.

For a first bronze we found Larissa Pimenta (BRA) and Mascha Ballhaus (GER) facing one another. After freeing her leg in ne-waza and turning over her opponent, in the blink of an eye, to immobilise her, Larissa Pimenta won medal number four in a grand slam.

Fabienne Kocher (SUI) faced double Olympic medallist Odette Giuffrida (ITA) to complete the podium. The experience of Giuffrida paid off as the Italian champion controlled her opponent to be penalised three times, sending the medal to Italy.

Read more about Chelsie Giles her consistency