Shiyan Xu puts China on top

China has a strong tradition at +78kg and for a long time. In Astana, it was Shiyan Xu who demonstrated this by qualifying for the final of the Grand Slam, after a clear victory by two waza-ari in the first round against Elis Startseva (AIN), the first with ko-soto-gari, the second via osaekomi-waza. In the next round, she unflinchingly blocked a kneeling attack from Karen Stevenson (NED) and countered it for ippon. In the semi-finals, it remained for Shiyan Xu to settle the fate of her compatriot Xin Xu, to join former Junior World Championn Marit Kamps, which she did by performing a thunderous makikomi for ippon.

If over the past days, we have seen some contests that went into long golden scores, the women's +78kg proved today to be effective and powerful, throwing quickly with beautiful ippon judo. Shiyan Xu did it in the final, with a superb o-uchi-gari that sent Marit Kamps flat on her back, an ippon with no discussion. China scores points in a well contested category.

Léa Fontaine arrived in Astana with the guarantee of a perhaps slightly more lenient draw in the first round as she could take advantage of her position as the number one seed. It was without taking into account the determination of her first opponent of the day, who, in just 4 seconds, sent the French judoka flying on to her back with a masterful ko-soto-gake.

Akerke Ramazanova could clench her fists in satisfaction, while Fontaine, totally flabbergasted, remained for long seconds lying on her front, wondering what had just happened. It is certain that she had not made the trip to Astana for only 4 seconds of combat. Such is judo, both cruel for the loser and so exhilarating for the winner.

In the semi-final Ramazanova failed to reproduce her feat. She was defeated by Marit Kamps, who scored a first waza-ari with o-uchi-gari and a nice change of direction, while she added to the score by pinning her opponent at the turn of the last minute of the contest. Several times ranked, but never a medallist during this season, Marit Kamps (NED) reached her first final of 2023.

Léa Fontaine still had a chance to be on the podium, fighting Xin Su for a bronze medal but unfortunately for her she was totally outpaced by Xin Su, who scored a first waza-ari with a seoi-nage and concluded with panache with a second seoi-nage, this time for ippon.

Karen Stevenson (NED) and Akerke Ramazanova (KAZ) battled for bronze. Strongly supported by the public, Akerke Ramazanova concluded a beautiful competition day with bronze, her first medal at that level, after she threw Stevenson for waza-ari with ko-soto-gari, concluding on the floor with an immobilisation for ippon.