Tais Pina sets career highlight in final against Cvjetko

In Astana, Lara Cvjetko of Croatia aimed to capitalize on Barbara Matic's absence, hoping to secure maximum points for Olympic selection. However, in the final, junior athlete Tais Pina of Portugal applied pressure from the onset, swiftly converting it into gold by throwing Cvjetko for ippon with ura-nage. Despite Cvjetko's aspirations for gold, Pina's remarkable performance signaled her emergence onto the senior scene, no longer able to fly under the radar.

In the first bronze medal contest, a rapid exchange saw Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown of Great Britain swiftly catch Tokareva of Kazakhstan for an ippon victory, disappointing the home crowd. Yeats-Brown's win allowed her to regain her lead in the rankings over compatriot Kelly Petersen Pollard.

The second bronze medal clash pitted Kim Polling of Italy against Wroblewska of Poland, with both judokas seeking significant results. Polling's experience and relentless pressure earned her the victory with two powerful seoi-otoshi throws, securing her first medal representing Italy.

Wroblewska, unseeded and seeking her first World Judo Tour medal, displayed resilience throughout the day, overcoming precarious positions to reach the bronze medal contest. A medal here would carry profound significance for her, potentially elevating her in the rankings and positioning her closer to Olympic qualification.

Meanwhile, Madina Taimazova of the Individual Athletes of Neutral (AIN) faced setbacks, accumulating penalties in her matches, highlighting the importance of learning from such experiences ahead of the Olympic Games.

Yeats-Brown's journey to the semi-final was notable, defeating formidable opponents and facing off against the rising star Tais Pina. Pina's advancement through the ranks, including victories over higher-seeded opponents, solidified her status as a force to be reckoned with on the senior circuit.

Kim Polling's impressive performance in the morning session set the stage for an eventful day, culminating in Portugal's surprising gold medal victory by Tais Pina in the final.