Pupp began well with a number of fast attacks but Krasniqi looked unfazed no matter what was thrown at her. She was patient and methodical, avoiding any risk but maintaining positive movement, until the decisive moment came and she whipped Pupp to the tatami with a clean o-soto-gake. Krasniqi had the ippon, the medal and the points.
Blandine Pont (FRA) and Roza Gyertyas (HUN) fought for the first bronze medal of the -52 kg category. Pont was confident but Gyertyas was better! A de-ashi-harai, perfectly placed and perfectly timed, caught Pont for a yuko and from there Gyertyas spent a long time making progress in ne-waza, building her situation and eventually scoring ippon with an inverted juji-gatame. This Hungarian judoka has only got better since her world medal came this summer!
The second bronze medal would go to Gabriela Conceicao (BRA) or Gaia Stella (ITA). A long series of incomplete and unsuccessful attacks punctuated the first 4 minutes of their contest and as golden score began, there was no significant change. Gradually the penalties were distributed but it took until the 11th minute of contest time for a winner to be decided. Stella took the medal and was emotional as she bowed off. This is her first World Judo Tour medal but there was really almost nothing between them.
Final (-52 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-52 kg)
