At the other end of the scale, proving that although current development is positive, there is a history of great judo in Mongolia, is 30-year-old Gankhaich Bold. She is the number 1 seed at -63 kg, bringing with her all the experience of a world medallist, a 6-time grand slam medallist and an Olympian. She is all of those things. The host nation had high hopes that today she would bring home the gold.
During the preliminary session, Bold did what needed to be done. She won in the quarter-final against Mina Libeer (BEL) by just a yuko. In the semi-final she had to push hard to pass Stolze (GER), but she did it, winning on penalties with her public in good voice behind her.
On the bottom half of the draw, the two seeded Japanese athletes defeated the rest to meet in their very own derby in the semi-final. They were both impressive but it was Yamaguchi who reached the final, which will take place in the day 2 final block, beginning at 5pm local time.
Final
Gankhaich Bold (MGL) vs Kirari Yamaguchi (JPN)
Bronze medal contests
Nina Simic (CRO) vs Minami Aono (JPN)
Gaetane Deberdt (FRA) vs Friederike Stolze (GER)
The -70 kg category did not offer the same perfect path to its top seed as the -63 kg group did. Ida Eriksson (SWE) lost out to Lu Liu (CHN) in the quarter-final and she lost in the repechage too. With the highest ranked athlete out, the doors were open for anyone in the category to reach for the top of the podium.
Nyam-Erdene Batsuuri (MGL) put in a solid performance to join Liu in their semi-final. Ultimately she lost out to the Chinese athlete but at nineteen years old and with 16 grand slam appearances already under her belt, the amassed experience she has is starting to show.
Double world medallist Barbara Timo (POR) could have been tipped for a medal before the curtains were pulled back but she lost out to last year’s Tokyo Grand Slam silver medallist Terada (JPN) in her first contest. Terada went on to join Liu in the final, passing Liu’s teammate, Yingying Feng, to do so.
Final
Lu Liu (CHN) vs Utana Terada (JPN)
Bronze medal contests
Tayla Grauer (GER) vs Yingying Feng (CHN)
Yesui Darkhanbatbayar (MGL) vs Nyam-Erdene Batsuuri (MGL)