Cancun Grand Prix Day 1 – Opening session

In the women’s -48kg category, top seed Milica NIKOLIC (SRB) advanced to the semi-finals where she fell to in-form Catarina COSTA (POR) by a waza-ari score. COSTA will meet Olympic champion and Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games Athlete Role Model Paula PARETO (ARG) in the final.

Rio 2016 champion PARETO (white judogi) defeated London 2012 Olympic champion MENEZES in the -48kg quarter-finals

In the -52kg category, number one seed Jessica PEREIRA (BRA) was stunned in her opening contest by Fabienne KOCHER (SUI). The Swiss judoka lost to Agata PERENC (POL) in the semi-final and will face teammate Evelyne TSCHOPP (SUI) for bronze.

In the -57kg category, top seed and world silver medallist Nekoda SMYTHE-DAVIS (GBR) reached the semi-final where she narrowly lost out to Olympic champion Rafaela SILVA (BRA) by a waza-ari score. The Brazilian will face world number 10 Jessica KLIMKAIT (CAN) for -57kg gold.

In the men’s -60kg category, number one seed and former Junior World Championships gold medallist Francisco GARRIGOS (ESP) was humbled at the quarter-final stage by Tornike TSJAKADOEA (NED). The Dutchman will meet fellow first-time IJF World Judo Tour finalist Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA) for gold.

Finally, in the -66kg category, top seed and Junior World Championships gold medallist Daniel CARGNIN (BRA) went undefeated until the semi-finals. The Brazilian youngster lost out to Aram GRIGORYAN (RUS) who will contest an all-Russian final against Mikhail PULIAEV (RUS).

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