It began with a close-quarters attack from the Kazakh judoka but she bailed, deciding against it. Scutto took an opportunity on the ground though to put her under the cosh. No pin, no score but a moment of great strength and control from the Italian. As the contest continued, at a pace and without any lull in energy, they both picked up penalties and were at risk of an unsatisfying loss. However, with 15 seconds to go, Abuzhakynova went round the waist again in an attempt to fight at the hips but Scutto was ready and threw for ippon with o-uchi-gari.
Assunta Scutto, after 2 bronzes and a silver from the last 3 editions, now has the full set, a shiny new gold medal to add to her collection. Not many judoka have ever claimed 4 world medals in a row but to cap that run with the gold is impressive, incredible and emotional.
After the final, Scutto cried, "I don't believe it. I'm really happy. I don't believe this! I only focus on the match. I don't look at the time; I don't look at the score, nothing, only the match. I said to myself today, 'I will win the gold medal, only the gold. I have 3 medals, 2nd or 3rd, I always missed the gold. I don't believe it, tomorrow maybe I will."
The first bronze medal contest saw Laura Martinez Abelenda (ESP) and Sabina Giliazova (IJF) take on the most important fight of their careers. Abelenda placed 5th at the 2019 Tokyo edition and so a win in Budapest would offer her the best result of her judo life. Giliazova has also never medalled at the worlds, not even placed. Whoever’s name would be added to the list of medallists, this would be incredible for them.
In fact, a win by penalties for the Spanish judoka just before the end of normal time meant that both judoka would leave the arena with career-best performances under their belts. Martinez Abelenda and coach Quino Ruiz made en emotional exit from the field of play while Giliazova can also be proud of her day of judo, finishing with a 5th place at a world championships.
The second bronze medal contest pitted double world medallist Wakana Koga (JPN) against French favourite, Olympic and world medallist Shrine Boukli. The contest began with Boukli dominating the kumi-kata phases, offering Koga no space to prepare or turn in for her attacks. A change of tactics was required and so Koga accessed her ashi-waza repertoire, first almost scoring with ko-uchi-gari and then registering a yuko with o-uchi-gari. Boukli was under pressure and couldn’t recover. As the bell sounded, Boukli lay on the tatami to digest her fate. Japan had their first medal of the championship and Koga had the 3rd world medal of her career.
Final (-48 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-48 kg)
Final Results (-48 kg)
