A bronze medal in Paris, silver in Dushanbe, and now gold in Astana. Melkia AUCHECORNE of France has stepped up to the senior plate and delivered. Though the final didn’t serve a score, and it was an accumulation of three shidos for TANIOKA Narumi (JPN), it didn’t take away the accomplishment go Auchcorne, as her journey to the final was an assault.
Switzerland’s first World Champion, Nils STUMP, was evidently back on form today, with only his final against Kazbek NAGUCHEV (UAE) reaching the four minute mark, in fact it was a yuko decision in the last thirty seconds that secured the gold medal for Stump, off the back of an uchi mata attempt, which could have been ippon had Naguchev not used his flexibility to rotate out.
A third gold medal went to Europe today, this time from Giorgia STANGHERLIN (ITA). It was an incredible turn of events in the final against FENG Yingying (CHN), masterly controlled by the Italian athlete as Feng attacked with ko soto gari. Feng fell but without enough control, and Stangherlin used this opportunity to transition immediately in to the osaekomi and take her first Grand Slam gold medal!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen