Former world bronze medallist Natalie POWELL (GBR) was the number one seed in the -78kg category but suffered two defeats to finish in seventh place. The Welsh judoka lost by ippon to Samanta SOARES (BRA) and by a waza-ari to Beata PACUT (POL).
Final TAKAYAMA, Rika (JPN) vs AGUIAR, Mayra (BRA)
Bronze Medal Fights PACUT, Beata (POL) vs ANTOMARCHI, Kaliema (CUB) SOARES, Samanta (BRA) vs LEON, Karen (VEN)
Double world silver medallist Maria Suelen ALTHEMAN (BRA) showed why she’s the top seed by safely progressing to the women’s +78kg final. ALTHEMAN defeated Mackenzie WILLIAMS (USA) and Kseniia CHIBISOVA (RUS) both by ippon.
Final ALTHEMAN, Maria Suelen (BRA) vs ORTIZ, Idalys (CUB)
Bronze Medal Fights ADLINGTON, Sarah (GBR) vs SOUZA, Beatriz (BRA) CHIBISOVA, Kseniia (RUS) vs GASPARIAN, Anzhela (RUS)
In the men’s -90kg category former world champion Nemanja MAJDOV (SRB) was defeated in his opening contest. Serbia’s first world judo champion was humbled by Frazer CHAMBERLAIN (GBR) by a waza-ari score and now plans to take some time out to heal some minor injuries.
Final ODENTHAL, Marc (GER) vs SILVA MORALES, Ivan Felipe (CUB)
Bronze Medal Fights CHAMBERLAIN, Frazer (GBR) vs MACEDO, Rafael (BRA) KLAMMERT, David (CZE) vs ELIAS, Nacif (LBN)
In the men’s -100kg category, top seed Ramadan DARWISH (EGY) was conquered in the quarter-final by the impressive Aaron FARA (AUT). DARWISH went on to finish seventh while FARA lost an all-Austrian semi-final and will fight for bronze.
Final BOEHLER, Laurin (AUT) vs BILALOV, Niiaz (RUS)
Bronze Medal Fights BUZACARINI, Rafael (BRA) vs MARET, Cyrille (FRA) FARA, Aaron (AUT) vs GONCALVES, Leonardo (BRA)
In the men’s +100kg category, Rio 2016 -100kg Olympic champion Lukas KRPALEK (CZE) won his three contests by ippon in the morning session. The Czech Republic ace beat Mircea CROITORU (ROU), Daniel ALLERSTORFER (AUT) and Tamerlan BASHAEV (RUS) by the maximum score.
Final KRPALEK, Lukas (CZE) vs GRANDA, Andy (CUB)
Bronze Medal Fights ALLERSTORFER, Daniel (AUT) vs MOURA, David (BRA) BASHAEV, Tamerlan (RUS) vs SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU)
Watch the final block at live.ijf.org from 17.00 on Sunday