That is the Olympic Video games and with it, brings controversies and unbelievable triumphs.
Within the early rounds we have been dealt main surprises from the likes of Tara BABULFATH (SWE), the 18 year-old who overcame the highest seed Assunta SCUTTO (ITA) to make it in to the -48kg semi ultimate. Babulfath additionally gave a formidable efficiency in opposition to TSUNODA Natsumi (JPN), nevertheless a 3rd shido was issued for a gripping infringement. It was a controversial choice for the younger Swedish athlete however she was compelled to simply accept she would competing for bronze in opposition to Abiba ABHUZHAKYNOVA (KAZ).
Tsunoda, who has moved to -48kg from her unique -52kg class has a number of World titles however is in seek for the Olympic gold. On her highway to the ultimate she defeated the house favorite Shirine BOUKLI (FRA) with a shocking tomoe nage. The Frenchwoman nonetheless managed to maneuver in to a medal contest nevertheless by seeing out Scutto within the repechage.
Assembly Tsunoda within the ultimate is the present World Champion, BAVUUDORJ Baasankhuu (MGL) who struggled in opposition to Laura MARTINEZ ABELENDA (ESP), who had given a lifetime finest efficiency in her preliminaries, it was clear as she turned extremely emotional by securing her place within the semi ultimate. Sadly, her nice effort in opposition to Bavuudorj ended after 1:37 in to golden rating, a yoko tomoe nage ended her bid for Olympic gold, although she is going to battle for bronze in opposition to Boukli.
Within the -60kg class, the Olympic gold hope was positioned on the shoulders of Luka MKHEIDZE (FRA), the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist had one mission right this moment and that was to be victorious on house soil. Although it was considerably anticipated to see Mkheidze within the semi ultimate, one large shock from day one got here from Salih YILDIZ (TUR) who ensured his semi ultimate place by taking out the present World Champion, Giorgi SARDALASHVILI (GEO) within the quarter ultimate after a gruelling golden rating bout.
Once more, Yildiz took on the golden rating problem in opposition to Mkheidze, and with two shidos to his identify, he was compelled to be the lively judoka, and located himself again within the battle. Stress was constructing in fact for the French judoka, and he was issued a second, even after 5 minutes of contest time, and the group quickly rallied behind him, and a kata guruma earned him not solely a waza ari rating however a spot within the Paris 2024 Olympic ultimate.
Sardalashvili could have been dissatisfied to not have made it to the ultimate given his current World accomplishments, however he demonstrated why he’s the primary seed, defeating KIM Received Jin (KOR) with a devastating okuri ashi barai, and securing his place within the bronze medal contest.
On the opposite half of the draw, Yeldos SMETOV (KAZ) got here by means of to beat the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, YANG Yung Wei (TPE) within the quarter ultimate, after which had Francisco GARRIGOS (ESP) within the semi ultimate. Garrigos was on the epicentre of an excellent drama that unraveled with NAGAYAMA Ryuju (JPN) within the earlier rounds, however got here again for the semi ultimate all pistons firing. Nevertheless, it was a shime waza utilized from his again that gave Smetov the win and received his place in his second Olympic ultimate. Garrigos will now tackle the present World Champion, Sardalashvili, for the bronze.
Smetov may full his Olympic assortment right this moment, a silver medal received in 2016, bronze in Tokyo, just one extra contest to win and he shall be named Olympic Champion. Can he defeat Mkheidze?
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
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