The first final of the day, -63 kg women, was contested by Angelika Szymanska (POL), 2024 world silver medallist, and Gili Sharir (ISR), 2023 Paris Grand Slam winner. It became a shido battle very quickly, a close one, eventually finishing in Sharir’s favour just 20 seconds into golden score. Sharir had the gold and Szymanska the silver.
In the first bronze medal contest Sharir’s colleague, Inbal Shemesh, faced former world number one Lucy Renshall (GBR). Renshall looked calm and dominant from the beginning, the kind of dominance that only comes with a work ethic and confidence. Shemesh felt her full force when attacking with a de-ashi-harai, countered sweetly by Renshall for ippon; the most perfect tsubame-gaeshi one could hope to see.
In the second bronze medal contest, the host nation were cheering loudly for their athlete, Iva Oberan (CRO), while facing her was a focused Carlotta Avanzato (ITA). The latter was fully warm up and in great shape, evidenced by an immense sukashi which quietened the public momentarily. Oberan was down by a waza-ari very early but the benefit of that is having the time to build a response and she did just that very fast indeed. Avanzato attacked again but Oberan was ready and switched into a sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi for ippon and a place on the podium.
