Clearly, this also impressed all of her opponents in Tajikistan. While she had to remain focused throughout the day, Buchard didn't waste time and won without much effort to reach another grand slam final, the ninth of her career. We told you it was impressive!
Looking across the draw, it was clear there was the possibility of a France-France final, as Blandine Pont, winner of three grand slams in her career, also advanced towards the final, but she was stopped short by Mukhayyo Akhmatova (UZB).
Thus Amandine Buchard (FRA) and Mukhayyo Akhmatova (UZB) faced off for the gold medal. As a first grand slam final for Mukhayyo Akhmatova, it was not an easy task to face Amandine Buchard, who was totally in control from the first hajime. A first long sequence on the floor led to no score. That came a little later with a waza-ari. The final was concluded with a shime-waza for ippon. This is gold medal number nine in a grand slam for Amandine Buchard.
Liliia Nugaeva (IJF) and Blandine Pont (FRA) faced off for the first bronze medal. It was not an exuberant win for Pont, who did the hardest part after she scored a yuko with an o-soto-gari on the edge of the competition area. Not flamboyant, but a good win after a long absence.
Madina Qurbonzoda (TJK) gave the host country their first chance of a medal in the women's event, facing Xiuzhi Jiang (CHN) in the second bronze medal contest. It started with a strong kumi-kata battle that seemed to be in Jiang’s advantage initially, but step by step, Qurbonzoda also imposed her rhythm, pushing the Chinese judoka to be penalised twice, once for breaking the grip and once for passivity.
For a little while the scoreboard went off but it was announced in the stadium that there were 30 seconds to go. This was the moment that Madina Qurbonzoda chose to counter-attack Jiang and immediately pin her down. The public exploded with joy at a level that was never reached before. Qurbonzoda broke into tears, tears of happiness. What a beautiful moment that was, a bronze medal for Qurbonzoda and for Tajikistan. This is also the first ever medal in a grand slam for a Tajik woman. Congratulations!
Final (-52 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-52 kg)
