The Japanese athlete struck twice with precision: first scoring a yuko with a well-executed uchi-mata makikomi, before adding a waza-ari from a controlled tomoe-nage. It was a clinical and composed display that ended Boukli’s campaign, sending her out of the competition without a medal or serious ranking points in Uzbekistan. Riding that momentum, Harada continued her impressive run, securing a place in the first grand slam final of her career.
The surprises did not end there. Reigning world champion Assunta Scutto (ITA) was also eliminated in her opening contest, by home favourite Laziza Haydarova (UZB). Backed by a vocal crowd, Haydarova produced a spirited performance but ultimately fell in the semi-final to Xinran Hui (CHN).
The final therefore saw Harada, a finalist at the Tokyo Grand Slam, face Hui, winner of the 2025 Kazakhstan Grand Slam, an unexpected line-up in a category thoroughly shaken by the day’s results.
Built on sharp action–reaction exchanges, shifting from forward to backward pressure, the contest remained finely balanced deep into the final minute. It was Hui who seized a decisive advantage as the clock ticked down. Once ahead, the Chinese judoka controlled the closing exchanges with maturity to secure a superb victory in Tashkent, and with it, the first gold medal of this 2026 grand slam edition.
In the first bronze medal contest, Maria Celia Laborde (USA) faced Haydarova, giving the home crowd an immediate reason to raise the volume inside the arena. The opening minute was cautious, each athlete receiving a penalty for passivity. With less than a minute remaining, further penalties sent the contest into golden score. After thirty tense seconds, a third penalty was awarded to Haydarova, silencing the crowd and handing Laborde her first grand slam bronze medal.
The second bronze medal contest featured the reigning junior world champion Sachiyo Yoshino (JPN) and Antalya Grand Slam 2021 winner Francesca Milani (ITA). Yoshino struck first with a sharp ko-uchi-gari and that score proved decisive, securing the bronze medal with authority.
Final (-48 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-48 kg)
