Paula Pareto secures best ever World Rank with gold in Budapest

Argentine Paulo Pareto won the Grand Prix of Budapest, although she is by far from her best shape. She won four fights and defeated Funa Tonaki in the final by yuko. World silver and Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Pareto, 29, who was fifth at London 2012, proved too much for the 19-year-old Japanese newcomer who was caught with a ko-uchi-makikomi for a yuko score to secure gold and with it 300 world ranking points.

Sofia European Open silver medallist Tonaki Funa (JPN) won the first IJF medal of her career as she starred in the lightest category of the competition. 

The first semi-final saw in-form Pareto defeat World Judo Masters bronze medallist Dilara Lokmanhekim (TUR) by ippon with 90 seconds left. In the second semi-final Tonaki showed her character as she absorbed the attacks of Pan American bronze medallist Dayaris Mestre (CUB) to prevail on shido penalties after a thoroughly entertaining contest.

The first bronze medal was awarded to former Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Nataliya Kondrtyeva (RUS) as she bested beaten semi-finalist Mestre. After four minutes of regular time, the score was level with a shido to both judoka and no scores registered and so the contest headed into golden score. The Cuban was penalised for dropping to hand the contest to Russia’s representative. The second bronze medal was won by three-time African champion Taciana Lima (GBS) who was supported to take part this weekend by the IJF. The African star defeated losing semi-finalist Lokmanhekim by ippon after 61 seconds and all but confirmed a seeded position for this year’s World Championships as she solidified her place in the top eight on the world ranking list.