Galbadrakh Otgontsetseg captures first gold for Kazakhstan

Qingdao Grand Prix bronze medallist Galbadrakh Otgontsetseg of Kazakhstan is in a good shape. Galbadrakh signed for her first title for Kazakhstan as she defeated Olympic bronze medallist Csernoviczki Eva of Hungary in the U48kg final.

Galbadrakh is always in the medal hunt at IJF events and her result is not unexpected after bronze medals at the Grand Prix events in Tashkent and Qingdao in recent outings. Galbadrakh led by a waza-ari and doubled her advantage with ashi-waza before receiving a shido for a false attack as she switched to a more tactical approach and maintained her modest advantage. Csernoviczki was shut out for all four minutes as Kazakhstan made a golden start to the Jeju Grand Prix.

In the first semi-final former World Judo Masters bronze medallist Dayaris Mestre Alvarez (CUB) lost out to Csernoviczki. Both judoka exchanged shido penalties after an opening stage which lacked potency and the highlight came when Csernoviczki threw her Cuban opponent for ippon with a sode-tsurikomi-goshi with 28 seconds left. In the second semi-final Olympic champion Sarah Menezes (BRA) suffered a miserable day as she was well-beaten by the determined Galbadrakh Otgontsetseg (KAZ). Galbadrakh held down the struggling Brazilian for 10 seconds for a yuko score and added a second yuko which proved enough for a place in the final.

The first medal contest of the Jeju Grand Prix 2015 pitted the out-of-form Menezes against Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Jeong Bo Kyeong (KOR). A waza-ari from the home judoka via a drop seoi-nage proved to be the only score of the contest as Menezes cut a despondent figure after her latest disappointment and has a lot to do to be in a position to defend her Olympic crown next summer. The second bronze medal was won by Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Dilara Lokmanhekim (TUR) in golden score as Mestre Alvarez was disqualified for a leg grab. With two shidos apiece and no scores registered after four minutes the contest required added time and having gone close with a prodding ko-uchi-gari the Cuban judoka gifted the contest and medal to her rival after 42 seconds of added time.