This is the Olympic Games and with it, brings controversies and incredible triumphs.
In the early rounds we were dealt major surprises from the likes of Tara BABULFATH (SWE), the 18 year-old who overcame the top seed Assunta SCUTTO (ITA) to make it in to the -48kg semi final. Babulfath also gave an impressive performance against TSUNODA Natsumi (JPN), however a third shido was issued for a gripping infringement. It was a controversial decision for the young Swedish athlete but she was forced to accept she would competing for bronze against Abiba ABHUZHAKYNOVA (KAZ).
Tsunoda, who has moved to -48kg from her original -52kg category has multiple World titles but is in search for the Olympic gold. On her road to the final she defeated the home favourite Shirine BOUKLI (FRA) with a stunning tomoe nage. The Frenchwoman still managed to move in to a medal contest however by seeing out Scutto in the repechage.
Meeting Tsunoda in the final is the current World Champion, BAVUUDORJ Baasankhuu (MGL) who struggled against Laura MARTINEZ ABELENDA (ESP), who had given a lifetime best performance in her preliminaries, it was clear as she became incredibly emotional by securing her place in the semi final. Unfortunately, her great effort against Bavuudorj ended after 1:37 in to golden score, a yoko tomoe nage ended her bid for Olympic gold, though she will fight for bronze against Boukli.
In the -60kg category, the Olympic gold hope was placed on the shoulders of Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA), the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist had one mission today and that was to be victorious on home soil. Though it was somewhat expected to see Mkheidze in the semi final, one huge surprise from day one came from Salih YILDIZ (TUR) who ensured his semi final place by taking out the current World Champion, Giorgi SARDALASHVILI (GEO) in the quarter final after a gruelling golden score bout.
Again, Yildiz took on the golden score challenge against Mkheidze, and with two shidos to his name, he was forced to be the active judoka, and found himself back in the fight. Pressure was building of course for the French judoka, and he was issued a second, even after five minutes of contest time, and the crowd soon rallied behind him, and a kata guruma earned him not only a waza ari score but a place in the Paris 2024 Olympic final.
Sardalashvili may have been disappointed not to have made it to the final given his recent World accomplishments, but he demonstrated why he is the number one seed, defeating KIM Won Jin (KOR) with a devastating okuri ashi barai, and securing his place in the bronze medal contest.
On the other half of the draw, Yeldos SMETOV (KAZ) came through to beat the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, YANG Yung Wei (TPE) in the quarter final, and then had Francisco GARRIGOS (ESP) in the semi final. Garrigos was at the epicentre of a great drama that unraveled with NAGAYAMA Ryuju (JPN) in the earlier rounds, but came back for the semi final all pistons firing. However, it was a shime waza applied from his back that gave Smetov the win and won his place in his second Olympic final. Garrigos will now take on the current World Champion, Sardalashvili, for the bronze.
Smetov could complete his Olympic collection today, a silver medal won in 2016, bronze in Tokyo, only one more contest to win and he will be named Olympic Champion. Can he defeat Mkheidze?
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen