In the semi-final, Oberan faced Kirari Yamaguchi (JPN), the 2024 Asian champion. The mountain was a little too high to climb for Oberan, who let Yamaguchi slip away into the final. There was still the possibility of a bronze medal for Croatia though.
Although she was not the favourite in the second part of the draw, we knew that Manon Deketer (FRA) was able to reach the final block. Third at the Upper Austria Grand Prix last May, but above all already a world medallist in 2022 in Tashkent, Deketer has the talent to transcend herself at the right moment. This is what she did without trembling throughout the day, knowing how to wait when it was necessary as she did in the tricky fight against Inbal Shemesh (ISR), or exploding at the right moment as in her semi-final against Geke Van Den Berg (NED).
The poster of the final was therefore Kirari Yamaguchi (JPN) against Manon Deketer (FRA). There was no real suspense during the final, as Kirari Yamaguchi applied the traditional Japanese tactic, scoring a first waza-ari immediately concluded on the floor with an immobilisation for ippon. The gold medal was for Yamaguchi, the third gold medal for Japan, all in the women's categories.
The first match for a bronze medal opposed Nauana Silva (BRA) and Geke Van Den Berg (NED) and the bronze medal went to Nauana Silva after she scored a waza-ari in the middle of the contest with a kata-guruma. This is medal number one in a grand prix for Silva.
During the second match for a bronze medal, it was Inbal Shemesh (ISR) and Iva Oberan (CRO) who faced each other. After a tactical contest, the medal went to the host country and Iva Oberan, after Inbal Shemesh was penalised a third time, confirming that Croatia has the capacity to win medals every day.
Final (-63 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-63 kg)
