Day three saw high expectations for the current -73kg world champion, Lasha SHAVDATUASHVILI (GEO) to replicate his performance in Hungary last year but it was a slow start for him. Nils STUMP (SUI) took the Georgian in to golden score and the contest was eventually only decided on penalties. Welcome to the world championships.
Unfortunately for the Olympic silver medallist, it wasn’t his day, losing out to both HASHIMOTO Soichi (JPN) and Daniel CARGNIN (BRA). Hashimoto was dominant in his preliminaries and also defeated Tohar BUTBUL (ISR) for his place in the final, sending the Israeli in to the bronze medal contest against current European champion Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE).
On the other side of the draw, Manuel LOMBARDO (ITA) seemed to be on the rise but was stopped by TSEND-OCHIR Tsogtbaatar (MGL) in the semi final and he will take on Olympic bronze medallist Cargnin for the bronze.
The -57kg current world champion Jessica KLIMKAIT (CAN) also missed out on continuing her reign as HUH Mimi (KOR) made it past her in the quarter final rounds.
Timna NELSON LEVY (ISR) was the only European to make it to the semi final round and came up against the 2016 Olympic champion Rafaela SILVA (BRA) who is on the rise again. This was evident as in less than 30 seconds she pulled out her signature uchi mata to secure the win and place in the final against FUNAKUBO Haruka (JPN).
Unfortunately Eteri LIPARTELIANI (GEO) and Daria BILODID (UKR) were unable to make their way through their repechage contests and so the remaining medals will be going to Pan America and Asia. This still gives Europe the potential of three medals, one secured in the -73kg category.
The final block will begin at 17:00 local time at live.ijf.org.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen