Kaju was the favourite from the outset and she lived up to all expectations. After very little time had passed, she attacked and scored with a low ko-uchi-gake. She continued on the ground, tying Yamaguchi in knots. The ippon was called to signify the extension of Haruka Kaju’s unbeaten run. She now adds the 2025 Tokyo Grand Slam gold to her personal medal tally.
The first of the two bronze medal contests Renata Zachova (CZE) and Gili Sharir (ISR) push each other hard in a battle of the seoi-otoshis. Sharir scored a yuko first and Zachova evened things up almost straight away; they had a yuko apiece. It stayed that way until just ten seconds before the end of normal time. Just as everyone expected a golden score finish, Zachova applied a tiny ko-uchi-gari, registering a second yuko which Sharir has no chance of equalising. The medal was Zachova’s.
Angelika Szymanska (POL) gave Narumi Tanioka (JPN) a very hard time in their bronze medal contest, making it difficult for her to complete any chosen movement. Szymanska is excellent with counter-attacks and in the end that is how she earned the first score of the fight, a waza-ari. As the contest progressed, the Polish fighter continued to pressure her opponent but that turned out to be her downfall. She attempted an inverted juju-gatame and, as is often the case, outstandin Japanese ne-waza ensued. Tanioka worked and worked until she could secure the hold, the ippon and the medal.
Final (-63 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-63 kg)
Final Results (-63 kg)
