Uta Abe joins her brother as a world judo champion

Uta Abe became the second world champion in the Abe family by living up to her billing as the U52kg favourite in at the World Junior Championships in Zagreb. The 17-year-old Düsseldorf Grand Prix winner, who already has a strong presence on the IJF World Judo Tour, reverted to junior duties today to win her first world title and there could be many more to come.

Abe had to beat her teammate and 20-year-old three-time Junior European Cup winner Maeda Chishima (JPN) to emerge victorious and accomplished that by a waza-ari score from an o-uchi-gari.

In the first semi-final Abe defeated former Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist Bishrelt Khorloodoi (MGL) who received her third shido with a second left in the scoreless contest. In the second semi-final Glasgow European Open bronze medallist Myriam Blavier (BEL) was beaten by Maeda by a margin of two waza-ari scores. Maeda was in total control and looked fresh as she left the tatami after a professional performance which sent her Belgian opponent into one of the two bronze medal contests. 

The first bronze medal was won by 19-year-old Junior European Cup winner Cleonia Raciu (ROU) who captured her country’s first medal in Zagreb with a narrow win over Blavier. Raciu produced the only score of the contest and her waza-ari advantage saw her home for world bronze.     

The second bronze medal was claimed by 20-year-old Junior European Championships bronze medallist Nazakat Azizova (AZE) in golden score against Bishrelt. The Mongolian was penalised in added time to gift the final medal in the category to her Azeri opponent.

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