Cvjetko did exactly what was required though, defeating Mun (PRK), Olympic medallist Gabriela Willems (BEL) and the 2024 world champion Margaux Pinot (FRA) to reach the first semi-final of the day. There she met Aoife Coughlan (AUS) who was also obeying the World Ranking List.
Stangherlin (ITA) and Chayeb (LBN) were beaten early for Coughlan to reach the quarter-final of pool B, to face Olympic and world medallist Sanne Van Dijke of the Netherlands. It was a close contest with the Australian just losing the edge on penalties before Van Dijke attacked and failed with a makikomi movement. Coughlan capitalised, turned her, freed her trapped leg and held for ippon.
On the bottom half of the draw, Butkereit steamrollered her opposition all the way to the quarter-final but there she met Shiho Tanaka (JPN), world bronze medallist in Abu Dhabi last year. Tanaka wanted to move u pa step at this year’s edition and gave everything she had to pass the German, a yuko hold being just enough to separate them.
Tanaka’s opponent in the semi-final was Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP) who had passed Taimazova (IJF), home favourite Szofie Ozbas (HUN) and Elisavet Teltsidou on the way there. Tanaka was the better of the two, clearly, from the first ‘hajime.’ Her side of the scoreboard showed the advantage just 15 seconds into the contest. A second one came two minutes later and Tsunoda Rousting had no response. Both would reach the final block but it was the Japanese judoka who still had the chance to claim the biggest prize of the day.
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Final
Lara Cvjetko (CRO) vs Shiho Tanaka (JPN)
Bronze medal contests
Sanne Van Dijke (NED) vs Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP)
Miriam Butkereit (GER) vs Aoife Coughlan (AUS)