Faiza Mokdar was back in competition today and she was clearly in good shape since she qualified for the final at the expense of her compatriot Martha Fawaz (FRA) who was beaten in the semi-final. Before that, Mokdar had eliminated Dora Bortas (CRO) and Nika Tomc (SLO).
The host country of this first post-Olympic Games grand prix, nevertheless held its first medal with the brave course of Ana Viktorija Puljiz (CRO) who after a first victory against Kitti Kovacs (HUN), offered herself to go further against Pleuni Cornelisse (End) and Beatriz Comanche (BRA) on tactical victories. Puljiz still had to overcome the obstacle Flaka Loxha (KOS) to join Mokdar in the final, which she did.
It was a tense final, in which neither athlete seemed able to gain the upper hand. Mokdar was penalised twice for false attacks, while Puljiz got one shido. In the golden score the same scenario unfolded until the Frenchwoman finally managed to slide under her opponent with her seoi-otoshi. Waza-ari and the gold medal for Mokdar at the end of the effort.
Beatriz Comanche (BRA) and Martha Fawaz (FRA) formed one of the duo for the bronze medal and once again the medal went to the French team.
The other match for the bronze medal saw Tihea Topolovec (COR) in position to offer a second medal to Croatia, against Flaka Loxha (KOS). She was on the way of doing it after she scored waza-ari with a sumi-gaeshi but she was then caught on the floor with a sankaku turned into a pin down for ippon. Bronze medal for Flaka Loxha.
