In the other half of the draw, fortune smiled on Livanur Kayir (TUR), who defeated Yuval Gabay (ISR) to book her place in the final. Awaiting her was the toughest challenge of all: facing Mishenkina, a contest that was never going to be easy.
In the final, the Turkish judoka stepped onto the tatami determined to give nothing away but, unfortunately for her, Mishenkina proved too strong. In the first exchange on the ground, Mishenkina seized her opportunity. After securing perfect control over her opponent, she applied an armlock to which Gabay resisted for as long as possible. It was in vain, however, and she was forced to submit, handing the world title to Nadezhda Mishenkina.
Asia was represented in the final block by Zi-Yu Yang (TPE), who faced Yuval Gabay (ISR) in the first bronze-medal contest. With two yuko scores from well-executed seoi-otoshi attacks, Yang climbed onto the podium and secured the bronze medal.
Türkiye also still had another chance of a podium finish with Fatma Zehra Meki (TUR) who took on Sandra Walendzik (POL) in the second bronze-medal bout. The contest remained undecided for a long time, as neither judoka managed to make the breakthrough in normal time. It was only in golden score that Sandra Walendzik finally seized her chance, slipping under her opponent’s centre of gravity to score a decisive yuko with seoi-otoshi. It was bronze for the Polish judoka.
Final (-44 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-44 kg)
