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European podium U52kg with golden Yulia Ryzhova

European podium U52kg with golden Yulia Ryzhova

22 Nov 2013 18:30
by Mark Pickering - IJF
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

The final in Abu Dhabi’s Grand Prix in the women's U52kg opposed Spanish Laura Gomez and Yulia Ryzhova from Russia. The score being tight until the last minute (one penalty each), neither of the fighters seemed to be capable of scoring, when Ryzhova engaged a strong harai-makikomi for waza-ari, enough to grab the gold at the end of a long competition day.

The two German athletes were present in the two bronze medal fights: the bronze medallist at the 2009 world championship, Romy Tarangul, and Mareen Kraeh (GER). But both fighters were defeated by ippon, Penelope Bonna (FRA) winning with an immobilisation and Andreea Chitu (ROU) with a superb counter attack. In the first semi-final, Laura Gomez (ESP) gave no chance to Andreea Chitu (ROU). She sent the Romanian athlete to the bronze medal fight with an unstoppable counter attack for ippon.

Earlier during the preliminaries, Laura Gomez (ESP) defeated Al Jalili Al Nuaimi (UAE) and the French Penelope Bonna (FRA). In the second semi-final, Romy Tarangul (GER), was almost qualified leading by two penalties against Yulia Ryzhova (RUS). But almost is not enough. A few seconds before the end of the semi-final, the Russian scored a small yuko and won her ticket to the final.