China has such a great history among the heavyweight women’s category, Olympic and world medallists populating results pages for many generations. Xinran Niu won a grand slam for the first time just a few weeks ago in Tashkent but it looks like she is here to stay. She is just twenty years old and already has the measure of an Olympic champion, beating Souza in the quarter-final in Kazakhstan.
With pool A decided, and not in the way anyone had anticipated, the reshuffling of the group continued. Tolofua (FRA) beat Lu (TPE) and Zabic (SRB) convincingly to reach her semi-final and there she dealt with Niu soundly. Niu did what she thought was the hard work against Souza but it seems she only cleared the path for Tolofua and it was the Frenchwoman who actually reached the final.
On the bottom half of the draw, Hyeonji Lee (KOR) and Coralie Hayme were due to reach the semi-final but that plan was also usurped, this time by Ruri Takahashi who defeated Hayme in their quarter-final. In the semi-final though, Lee dominated and pushed Takahashi into the fight for a bronze instead of the one for the gold and so the final block athletes were all named.
In the first bronze medal contest Beatriz Souza (BRA) faced Ruri Takahashi (JPN). It was a slog for both to find the grips they wanted and so both were penalised twice, forcing them to open up.
Souza then attempted an attack without adjusting her balance effectively and was duly countered by Takahashi with a huge, wheeling change of direction; she had beaten the Olympic champion!
Maria Ivanova (IJF) and Xinran Niu (CHN) fought for the second bronze medal. It was an uneventful contest with a number of poorly prepared attacks. Eventually Niu took the win on penalties, the fitter of the two.
In the final, Tolofua (FRA) and Lee (KOR) bowed on to the tatami with two opposing styles, both determined to win the title of Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam champion. An o-soto-gari from Lee which knocked Tolofua on to her hips offered the Korean side a yuko.
At this level even a tiny score can be hard to get back and Tolofua, despite her strength, power and ability, couldn't get past Lee's defences. It was gold for Lee.
Final (+78 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (+78 kg)
