Appearances, however, can be deceptive. Quickly her opponents rediscovered why Sone has long been considered the benchmark in the heavyweight division. Xinran Liu (CHN) was the first to fall, followed by Asya Tavano (ITA). In the semi-final, Sone overcame Ruslana Bulavina (UKR), who had benefited from the withdrawal of Raz Hershko (ISR) earlier in the day. Sone once again found herself in a grand slam final, a scenario that, ultimately, felt entirely logical.
In the lower half of the draw, Lea Fontaine (FRA) powered through her section with conviction. The French judoka left little room for doubt, sweeping aside her opposition to secure the fourth grand slam final appearance of her career.
The final between Sone and Fontaine offered a fascinating contrast. Two fundamentally different styles and physiques met on the tatami. Sone produced a display of dynamic, mobile judo, using near flawless footwork and sharp technical precision to disrupt Fontaine’s rhythm completely. She moved constantly, creating angles and denying the French athlete any stable base. Eventually, she identified the opening she had been patient to construct. A well timed o-uchi-gari brought a decisive yuko; it was enough. With control and experience, Sone managed the closing stages to secure another grand slam gold medal, a return to the top that reflects her stature in the sport.
Japan added further silverware as Ruri Fujii (JPN) faced Tavano in one of the bronze medal contests. Fujii gave her opponent little opportunity to impose herself and secured victory with a waza-ari.
In the second bronze medal match, Umida Nigmatova (UZB) met Bulavina, offering the host nation another reason to celebrate. Nigmatova rose to the occasion with confidence, claiming her first medal at this level. The achievement is all the more remarkable given her age. In 2025, she was world champion... in the cadet category. This is unlikely to be the last time her name is mentioned on the World Judo Tour.
Final (+78 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (+78 kg)
