For her part, the other Frenchwoman in the category, Martha Fawaz, had a strong shot at taking the lead in the category in France. While a quarter-final between Cysique and Fawaz was initially expected, the latter faced the Mongolian judoka to advance to the semi-finals and then defeated Nino Loladze (GEO) to reach the final. The rivalry in the category will be fierce in France.
The category wasn't at the end of its surprises, as in the round of 16 between Veronica Toniolo (ITA) and Kseniia Galitskaia (ITA), neither judoka emerged victorious, after both received hansoku-make, after more than 11 minutes of golden score. This notable event sent Marica Perisic (SRB) to the semi-finals directly, where she faced the local hero Eteri Liparteliani (GEO) who didn't disappoint the crowd, offering a new chance of medal for Georgia.
In the final, Liparteliani wanted to replicate her performance from last year, but she was quickly dominated by the power of Fawaz, who scored a first yuko with a seoi-otoshi. The French athlete scored again a little later to take a strong lead. Not even half of the final had passed when Fawaz again sent her opponent on the side, this time for a waza-ari but that's when the contest became crazy. Liparteliani, step by step, came back to score, one waza-ari and one yuko, plus another one and another one. Crazy, we said, totally crazy! What a beautiful final that was to conclude the day. Congratulations to the winner, Eteri Liparteliani, for that amazing comeback. Congratulations to Fawaz because to have a great contest, you need two great champions.
Ichinkhorloo Munkhtsedev (MGL) and Marica Perisic (SRB) faced each other in the first bronze medal contest. After a tense contest, where only penalties had been given, Perisic hooked Munkhtsedev's foot with a ko-uchi-gari that got just the right landing for a yuko and a bronze medal for Perisic.
Pauline Starke (GER) and Nino Loladze (GEO) entered the arena for the last bronze medal contest of the day and it looked like Lolaze was immediately focused on throwing Starke on her back with force, speed and control, which she did beautifully with a tani-otoshi for ippon and another medal for the host country.
Final (-57 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-57 kg)
