In fact, Wenna Zhuang kept pushing forward and blocked Abuzhakynova perfectly. She threw her twice and for the rest of the contest managed to keep Abuzhakynova under control.
In the second half of the draw, the hierarchy was respected neatly, as the two top seeds, Anudari Jamsran (MGL) and Mélanie Legoux Clément (FRA), qualified for the semi-finals after a rigorous and diligent preliminary phase. It was a close contest, in which Jamsran waited for the last second, literally, to throw Legoux Clément to reach the final.
Thus the final opposed Wenna Zhuang (CHN) and Anudari Jamsran (MGL). After almost two minutes of observation, the first score came from Zhuang with a ko-uchi-gari that surprised Jamsran for a yuko. More and more precise, the Chinese judoka looked very strong. Jamsran had a very difficult time on the floor after she was caught with a powerful sankaku-jime, but she escaped. The end of the final approached and the gold medal seemed to be going to China, when Anudari Jamsran launched a desperate uchi-mata, but perhaps without the mistakes desperation can cause. She found the right control to score ippon and steal the gold medal, winning her first victory in a grand slam.
Wakana Inagaki (JPN) and Mélanie Legoux-Clément (FRA) faced one another in the first bronze medal contest. The contest began with one shido apiece after a few seconds and a sequence on the floor that Legoux-Clément had to be careful in, knowing the quality of ne-waza in Japan. Inagaki then received a second shido for a false attack, putting her under pressure. It was time for golden score. After one minute, Legoux-Clément found herself in a difficult situation. We could hear her coach shouting from the stands, "don't stay here" and he was right as Wakana Inagaki threw her opponent with uchi-mata to take the medal.
The second bronze medal contest saw Ulbusin Khakimova (UZB) and Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ) stepping on to the tatami for a place on the podium. Khakimova received a first shido, even if she looked more active, as none of her attacks had a chance to complete a throw. With a beautiful change in direction, Abiba Abuzhakynova secured a first score and then pinned her opponent to take the bronze medal, her ninth medal at that level.
Final (-48 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-48 kg)
