In the second part of the draw, it was an outsider who managed to stand out from the crowd. Prisca Awiti Alcaraz (MEX), after a first round win against Marjona Nurulloeva (UZB), prevailed against Gabriella Moraes (BRA), who herself had taken out one of the favourites, Barbara Timo (POR), winner of the Portugal Grand Prix at the start of the season.
All that remained for Prisca Awiti Alcaraz was to get rid of Hannah Martin (USA) and Andreja Leski (SLO) to join Horikawa in the final, which she did brilliantly. Tashkent is Awiti Alcaraz’s 13th grand slam, an unlucky number for some, but this event brings her first medal and so has broken that spell.
For her first participation in the final of a grand slam, the mountain to climb, named Megumi Horikawa, was too high for Prisca Awiti Alcaraz, who was thrown with a first uchi-mata for waza-ari, followed by another masterful uchi-mata for ippon. It was gold for Japan.
The first match for a bronze medal was between Florentina Ivanescu (ROU) and Andreja Leski (SLO). After a well balanced match and with only a few seconds remaining, Florentina Ivanescu scored a waza-ari with a beautiful tai-otoshi, to take the bronze medal, a first medal in a grand slam for the Romanian judoka.
The second bronze medal was disputed by Agathe Devitry (FRA) and Szofi Ozbas (HUN). The normal time ended with an even score of one waza-ari apiece while Devitry had two shido to her name. Time for golden score and at the two minute mark Szofi Ozbas eventually won her fourth medal in a grand slam.
Final (-63 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-63 kg)
