-48 kg: Can Boukli Do it Again?
World number 5 Shirine Boukli arrived amid cheers, a home favourite who always gets local hearts racing. Through to the round of 16 comfortably, she faced a tougher challenge against Natasha Ferreira (BRA), a fast-moving, dynamic opponent. But Boukli was more than ready! She out-gripped Ferreira for two minutes, forcing a pair of yellow cards onto the scoreboard. At the halfway point, Boukli accelerated again and threw for ippon with an inescapable sumi-gaeshi. The crowd roared; Boukli is delivering!
In her quarter-final, Boukli continued, launching Hui (CHN) with a massive o-goshi. Boukli was into the semi-final and the spectators appreciated it. Perhaps a final against world champion Assunta Scutto was on the cards? No, Scutto didn’t last the morning, losing to Zhuang (CHN) after leading by waza-ari. Zhuang’s huge ko-soto-gake forced an early exit for the judoka in pole position. If Boukli could get past the formidable Wakana Koga (JPN) in their semi-final, a final against any of an array of other judoka would be arranged.
Boukli commanded the gaze of all under the roof of the Accor Arena, charismatic, dynamic and intelligent, she’s a fantastic role model for the young judoka of any country. She will fight anyone, in any situation and always with respect and heart. All these qualities were on display in Paris through the preliminary rounds and never more so than in her semi-final.
Boukli gripped expertly and neutralised all Koga’s efforts while maintaining a high pace of her own. She used her incredibly fast sumi-gaeshi once again to put a score on the board and then gave a masterclass in positive evasion to reach the Paris final. She stood with her hands aloft, soaking up the atmosphere for just a few seconds before adjusting her judogi and bowing off the tatami. A final now needed to be prepared for.
Final (-48 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-48 kg)
-52 kg: Krasniqi (KOS) Looks Set to Dominate
World number 2 Mascha Ballhaus (GER) stuck to her plan, offering Avesta (CYP) a close-up look at her trademark tani-otoshi. Seeded second behind double Olympic medallist Distria Krasniqi (KOS), Ballhaus was off to a perfect start.
Ballhaus was not the only one of the top 4 seeds to obey her ranking. Krasniqi (KOS) also advanced to her quarter-final without a hitch. Both then went one step further.
Bercy-sweetheart Amandine Buchard (FRA) arrived at the semi-final stage too but after an 11 minute contest against Omori (JPN), a trickier path but no less successful. Lieva Sanchez (ESP), however, was taken out of the running by Jang (KOR), the only top 4 seed not to reach the final 4.
In Krasniqi and Buchard’s semi-final, a tiny yuko would decide the winner and this went in favour of the Kosovan. Buchard would fight for bronze. She has a full set of Paris medals but one more is always welcome!
Ballhaus did not replicate Krasniqi’s victory, losing out to Toro Soler of Spain. Having seen Lieva Sanchez depart early, the Spanish finalist could be satisfied that as Olympic qualification approaches, she has found a good track. This will be a highly contested Olympic place among the Spanish team.
Final (-52 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-52 kg)
-57 kg: France Reaches Every Medal Contest
The Accor Arena audience was in good voice for their double Olympic medallist Sarah-Léonie Cysique. She bulldozed her way through the rounds, giving them exactly what they hoped for, determined yet refined. With two bronze medals from previous editions, her sights were set on gold and nothing less.
France added another name to the list of their home-grown semi-finalists when Chloe Devictor threw and held Israel’s Timna Nelson-Levy in their quarter-final. It was a satisfying result for the 23-year-old who has no medal from the World Judo Tour as yet. Could today be her day? She would face teammate Cysique for a place in the final.
Nelson Levy dropped into the repechage where she expected a route to the bronze medal contest. However, Mariana Esteves (GUI) was fit, prepared and determined and in golden score used her ashi-waza to reach her first Paris final block. Having been on the international circuit for more than a decade, Esteves would finally compete for a medal at the Paris Grand Slam. The 29-year-old deserved her place in the last 6; it was no accident!
On the other side of the draw, Faiza Mokdar added to the French onslaught but Akari Omori put a halt to a total French whitewash. She beat Tao (CHN), Beurskens (NED and Momo Tamaoki (JPN) en route a semi-final against Mokdar, but one way or another, France would appear in this final, in blue for certain but perhaps in white too.
The semi-finals gave rise to some serious noise in the arena. With three out of four judoka being French, it was a feast of judo for the local judo fans. However, they did not get their ideal final as Faiza Mokdar was unable to dominate Omori. The Japanese judoka placed three scores on the board and stepped into the final to face Cysique who overcame Devictor convincingly.
Final (-57 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-57 kg)
-63 kg: Silva Wants Gold!
Top seed Iva Oberan (CRO) and 3rd seed Kirari Yamaguchi (JPN) did exactly what was expected of them to reach their respective semi-finals, but their opponents there were not the other two top seeds of the category.
In a category punctuated by two generations of world champion, Rafaela Silva (BRA) and Joanne Van Lieshout (NED), both in pool C, there remained placings open for discussion.
Pool A was won by Oberan, as it should be. Her semi-final opponent was not Laura Fazliu (KOS) though. In pool B the 4th seed was eliminated in a double hansoku-make situation with Gili Sharir (ISR). This meant Lkhagvatogoo’s (MGL) win against Laura Vazquez Fernandez (ESP) in the round of 16 was incredibly important. The Mongolian judoka advanced through a space in the quarter-final to reach the final 6 spots of the tournament.
In pool C, the battle of the champions ensued and it was Silva who rose victorious. A take-back for a waza-ari inside the last minute defeated the Dutch judoka and Silva moved into the semi-final to face Yamaguchi (JPN), who won pool D without too much hinderance. That semi-final also went Silva’s way; a strong and confident performance. Sumi-gaeshi was her strategy of choice, scoring a waza-ari.
