The final of the first category of the day was perhaps not the expected one for the -48 kg group. Coming into the arena to applause, lights and music was not new to Mary Dee Vargas Ley (CHI). A Panamerican champion three times over and several times a bronze medal contender on the World Judo Tour, Vargas Ley is experienced but had never arrived in quite this way, ready to compete for gold.
Wenna Zhuang of China offered the host nation a first final in Qingdao, an impressive launch to their campaign. She has a single grand slam medal from a limited number of tournament, after just two years on the World Judo Tour She wanted to win in front of her supporters and in the end Mary Dee Vargas Ley made that happen for her. For her first time in a Grand Prix final, she had looked prepared but made a catastrophic error in the opening exchange. She reaped the supporting leg of Zhuang from behind and received a direct disqualification. Vargas Ley finally has her medal but it is a silver and that’s not what she wanted.
China has a first gold medal of the event, from the first weight category in contention, a perfect start! Congratulations to Wenna Zhuang (CHN).
The first bronze medal contest took place between Chen-hou Lin (TPE) and Narantsetseg Ganbaatar (MGL). It was a close encounter with intense gripping phases but a lack of precision in terms of attack choice and commitment. This led to an accumulation of penalties for both fighters, going into golden score tied at two apiece.
The medal was decided by a third penalty being sent to Lin for touching the leg. It was not her planned way to finish but Ganbaatar had edged the contest on work rate and despite the closeness of the scoreline, looked stronger throughout.
Then second bronze medal contest was already in the bag for Shirine Boukli, if her demeanour was anything to go by. She strode on to the tatami with only one goal and Kyeongha Lee was therefore under pressure from the start. Boukli took the first score inside the first minute and gave Lee no opportunity to find her rhythm; it was a masterclass in control.
With just under two minutes remaining, Boukli turned her opponent over and held her for ippon. She did not celebrate and cheer but stood on her spot seriously to bow to her rival. She came for a medal and won one, but it was not the right one, giving her much to consider as she leaves China.
Final (-48 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-48 kg)
