Semi finals women U63kg with red backnumber at stake

Just one surprise in the semi finals for women U63kg at the World Championships in Astana. Dutch Juul Franssen wasn’t expected to win her pool where Kathrin Unterwurzacher was kicked out after two matches by Croatian Marijana Miskovic. The lady from Split lost to Franssen who personally sent Alice Schlesinger back with empty hands. Then she bested Rizlein Zouak who had perhaps the biggest sensation by knocking out European Games winner Martyna Trajdos in her first match.

Franssen has to battle with Tina Trstenjak in the semi final. Normally an easy win for the world’s leading judoka U63kg against Franssen 48^th. The Slovenian beat Franssen in Baku’s European Games but just for the records, lost to Franssen at the European Cadet Championships in 2006 when they were 16 (Franssen) and 15 (Trstenjak). It won’t count in Astana but the shape of Franssen does.

World Champion Clarisse Agbegnenou got attached to her red backnumber and will defend it, even if friends want to take it for this year. Agbegnenou will meet Yarden Gerbi, a super clash as always. Last two years it was the World Championships final. Agbegnenou leads by 4-2. The French overcame Miku Tashiro of Japan in the quarter final, but the Japanese can come back in the repechage if she is able to knockout Dutch Anicka van Emden. She has won world bronze medals in 2011 and 2013, so who’s superstitious can bet on her. Likely Tashiro will have to face Franssen as well for bronze if the Japanese buildout her 3-0 statistical lead against Van Emden.

The Dutch lost her quarter final to Yarden Gerbi who won her three bouts rather easily before the real clash with friend Agbegnenou.

Semi finals:

Trstenjak – Franssen       1-1

Agbegnenou – Gerbi       4-2

Tina Trstenjak moved to the world top U63kg. She won World bronze in 2014 and was unstoppable. She won silver though at the European Games and three European medals in total. Part of a successful women’s generation winning team medals with Slovenia.

Juul Franssen won European Championships in three age categories U17 (2006), U20 (2008)and U23 (2012 and 2013), all U57. When Franssen stepped up to U63kg it gave her the boost in the senior category that she needed and started winning international medals again. Double national champion.

Agbegnenou is the 2014 World Champion and runner-up in 2013. Double European Champion and #1 of the world U63kg. She won European and World Team titles with France.

Yarden Gerbi is Israel’s pride. She won the world title in 2013 and silver in 2014 U63kg. She won 3 European medals and won the European Club title with Galatasaray. Gerbi won several World level events starting from 2009 in Belo Horizonte. Helps with social improvement of the youth in her country.