Brazilian Stefannie Arissa Koyama takes jackpot at IJF debut

Grand Slam rookie Stefannie Arissa Koyama of Brazil was the star of the U48kg category as the IJF World Judo Tour debutant won all four contests for a debut to remember. The 21-year-old still lives in her native Japan where she is in her final year of University. Brazilian pocket rocket Koyama had the style and frenetic pace which is associated with Japanese judoka and picked off her bewildered opponents.

The young finalist scored a waza-ari from a ko-soto-gari and added a second from a ko-soto-gake to become a new face in the category for a new Olympic cycle with a confident win over the favourite Milica Nikolic (SRB).

In the first semi-final Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Milica Nikolic (SRB) defeated former Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Shira Rishony (ISR) by a waza-ari. In the second semi-final Rio 2016 Olympian Taciana Cesar (GBS) fell to Koyama. Brazil-born Cesar went behind to a waza-ari from an explosive movement from the young Brazilian who immediately applied the osaekomi and the former tapped out after 12 seconds.

The first bronze medal contest was won by Düsseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Noa Minsker (ISR) who defeated veteran Cesar, 33, with a waza-ari which came with 15 seconds left. Minsker, who was off with a reverse seoi-nage attempt in the first exchange, drove the African champion over finally with a morote-seoi-nage and Cesar was unable to find a reply in the closing seconds. Israel’s Minsker will now continue her accelerated ascension up the rankings having followed her Düsseldorf podium with a first career Grand Slam medal.

The second bronze medal was won by Rishony after World Judo Masters bronze medallist Maryna Cherniak (UKR) received a direct hansoku-make for a waki-gatame. The Ukrainian led by a waza-ari from a sumi-gaeshi but was disqualified for the aforementioned illegal move in the closing seconds to send Rishony onto the podium.