Carna can not prevent world title for Japans Rin Kamiya

Japan claimed its second world title for juniors in the women’s U52kg weight class. There was not so much suspense in a final that looked like it could go to another nation perhaps more than the two previous ones, but after a first round of observation, Rin Kamiya suddenly disappeared under the defending world champion and with a fast sode-tsuri-komi-goshi sent the Italian judoka flat on her back for ippon. It was the third gold for Japan.

Italy arrived in Portugal in force, with real medal possibilities. Their biggest chance of the day was undoubtedly Giulia Carna. World number one, the young Transalpine athlete has already tasted world gold in a previous junior year, winning in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Already a grand slam medallist in Hungary in 2022, Giulia Carna is a sure bet in the category.

It still remained for Giulia Carna to complete her junior work by facing Rin Kamiya (JPN) in the final. For the third time today, Japan placed an athlete in the final of these world championships. This already promises something for the following days and for the team tournament.

Another Italian had the chance to win a medal, since Micaela Sciacovelli (ITA) was opposed by Luciana Catana (ROU) to reach the podium and once again Italy came out on top, after Catana received a third shido. This bronze medal was for Micaela Sciacovelli.

Léa Beres (FRA) was her last victim, in the semi-final, the Frenchwoman totally suffocated by the power of Carna and her ability to chain intense standing sequences and powerful ground work together.

Lea Beres (FRA), who had done the hardest part by reaching the semi-finals, where she lost to Carna, after a lacklustre performance by the French delegation in the other categories, will undoubtedly have regrets. However, she still had the chance of a medal against Carina Klaus-Sternwieser (AUT). The French judoka did not let her chance slip away. She controlled the contest perfectly and scored a first waza-ari with a seoi-otoshi, before confirming it with a second score from a counter-attack. It was the first bronze medal for the French delegation.