In a show of strength and skill, as the final began the Kosovan attacked with a small sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi, almost immediately, but used it to feel her opponent’s balance and in the very next movement employed an enormous ashi-guruma that spun Ariane Toro Soler (ESP) on to her back.
The Spanish judoka had a great day but Krasniqi’s quality is something else altogether. She has her fourth Paris gold and looked incredible earning it.
Larissa Pimenta (BRA) and Mascha Ballhaus (GER) fought for the first of the two bronze medals on offer. It was a close contest and at full time Ballhaus was behind but only by two penalties to one. As the contest went into golden score Pimenta collected her second shido and later her third, giving the medal to Germany’s world medallist, Mascha Ballhaus.
For the second bronze medal, Seyun Jang (KOR) had her work cut out against Amandine Buchard (FRA) and the French crowd, working together to lift their girl and offer all the support they could muster. In fact it took Buchard just 90 seconds to find her solution and claim the medal, a de-ashi-harai, actually a massive de-ashi-harai that sent Jang across the tatami in style. The cheer inside the Accor Arena said it all!
Final (-52 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-52 kg)
