Deguchi has proven to be back at the top of her game over the last year or more, winning her second world title in May 2023 and a silver at this year’s edition in Abu Dhabi, along with claiming more points that any other athlete, man or woman, on the World Judo Tour. Regardless of results, her route to the Games has not been easy but she’s here and is already making statements in the mat!
Deguchi breezed passed Jimenez (PAN) but struggled a bit against the strength of Perisic, working from 2 penalties down at one point, but in golden score the Canadian made her space and scored with a seoi-otoshi. Into the semi-final she went, to meet the very best version of Sarah-Leonie Cysique, one which dispatched Funakubo (JPN) with what looked like an easy ashi-waza from the first grip.
Funakubo had already authored one upset by beating Ukrainian double world champion Bilodid in round two but she couldn’t do the same against the home athlete.
In pool C Mimi Huh (KOR) waged a perfect campaign against strong opposition from Nelson-Levy (ISR) and Lkhagvatogoo (MGL) and is likely to be a problem for her semi-final rival, Olympic and double world champion Rafaela Silva (BRA). Rafa dealt with Pardayeva (TKM) and Liparteliani (GEO) without blinking.
In the final block the contests will be:
Repechage
Marica Perisic (SRB) vs Haruka Funakubo (JPN)
Lkhagvatogoo (MGL) vs Eteri Liparteliani (GEO)
Semi-finals
Christa Deguchi (CAN) vs Sarah Leonie Cysique (FRA)
Mimi Huh (KOR) vs Rafaela Silva (BRA)