-63kg: Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, Without a Doubt

Today at least two judoka were better on the tatami than Agbégnénou: Katharina Haecker (AUS) and Laura Fazliu (KOS). Some could argue for hours that Agbégnénou is not back to her best yet but that is totally irrelevant. In this case Haecker and Fazliu produced the right matches and managed to find the flaw in the French armour. It is certain, however, that for a first return to competition, Agbégnénou has shown great things. There is no doubt that she learned a lot too because in her absence judo continued to evolve and live. She now has to catch up with the times and adapt to the new rules. Everyone is convinced that she will be able to draw lessons from her seventh place today.

To come back to the urgent topicality of the category, it is therefore Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard (CAN) and Maylin Del Toro Carvajal (CUB) who proved to be the most fit today, when both qualified for the final after matches where they sometimes had to draw on deeply buried reserves.

Olympic and world medallist Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard had an advantage on paper when compared with her opponent. Despite a first shido for not gripping, Maylin Del Toro Carvajal was the first to attack but for no score. She was definitely not afraid but the first score did come from the Canadian judoka, who applied an almost perfect kata-guruma. Following that brilliant action, she continued on the ground to eventually unfold Del Toro's arm to conclude with an armlock for ippon. Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard was the strongest today, without any doubt.

Laura Fazliu (KOS) and Gili Sharir (ISR) qualified for the first match for a bronze medal. Despite the incredible support received by Gili Sharir, she couldn't reward it and had to bow out, offering the victory to Laura Fazliu for Kosovo.

The second bronze medal contest was disputed by Lucy Renshall (GBR) and Katharina Haecker (AUS). Lucy Renshall gave no chance to Katharina Haecker, after she pinned her to win her ninth medal in a grand slam.