Huh’s day was short though as Brazil’s emerging powerhouse in the category, taking on the mantle since Olympic champion Rafaela Silva moved up to the weight above, Shirley Nascimento, footswept her way past the Korean. Next she beat Yang (TPE) and then had to face Momo Tamaoki (JPN) for a place in the semi-final.
Tamaoki has two world medals but neither are gold and her chances are running low. The 30-year-old is on great form though and on the way to meet the Brazilian she looked close to unbeatable. Against Nascimento she applied the greatest pressure on the ground and held her for ippon.
Another big name in the category, double Olympic medallist Sarah-Leonie Cysique (FRA), was also one to watch in the early rounds. Puljiz (CRO), Zueva (IJF) and Perisic (SRB) all suffered against her but Tamaoki was a step too far. The Japanese athlete was clearly emotional to reach the final while Cysique had emotions of her own, not reaching her goal. Cysique still has no medal from a senior world championships, despite her incredible CV. Going in to the final block, it was still not a guaranteed outcome; nervous moments ahead.
On the bottom half of the draw, Eteri Liparteliani (GEO) made the decision to write a new page in the history of Georgian judo, determined, unshaken by scores against her or penalties given. She is the poster girl for never giving up!
Arriving as the number 3 seed, she had a head start, earned via her great performances over the last couple of years. She had a bye in the first round and then knocked Kim (KOR) and Kurbonmammadova (IJF) out of the event before defeating Finland’s Pihla Salonen in the quarter-final, dropping her into the repechage.
Eteri’s semi-final was a tough contest though and she struggled to find her rhythm, going down by two shido against Maysa Pardayeva (TKM) who had flown through the earlier rounds. Eteri, true to her usual style never gave up and threw for ippon with a massive ura-nage to become the first Georgian woman ever to reach a world championship final.
The final block begins at 18:00 local time.
Final
Momo Tamaoki (JPN) vs Eteri Liparteliani (GEO)
Bronze medal contests
Shirley Nascimento (BRA) vs Maysa Pardayeva (TKM)
Shukurjon Aminova (UZB) vs Sarah-Leonie Cysique (FRA)