Sampaio though, had the upper hand immediately and impressively. She threw Umeki for a yuko from the first grip, a fast seoi-otoshi employed. In the second exchange, Sampaio went again, this time locking up Umeki’s sleeves and throwing with o-soto-gari, transitioning directly into kesa-gatame.
It was an outstanding display, the likes of which most Japanese fighters will never have to suffer. The Portuguese champion made it look easy, an outstanding performance against world-class opposition.
Aleksandra Babintseva was in big trouble against Liz Ngelebeya (FRA) who threw her with a makikomi first, waza-ari scored, and then a counter, yuko scored. The first bronze medal contest was moving at quite a pace; it all happened so fast but Babintseva was not disturbed at all. She kept her cool and countered the Frenchwoman’s next attack, a ko-soto-gari, with a massive uchi-mata for ippon. No result is ever written until the referee says ‘soremade!’
In the second bronze medal contest Yuxiao Peng (CHN) beat her teammate Hongtao Wu in ne-waza. Neither judoka held back but ultimately it was the groundwork of Peng which split them; she turned and held her opponent for ippon to claim the second grand slam medal of her career to date.
Final (-78 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-78 kg)
