Alesya Kuznetsova back to Grand Prix gold

Alesya Kuznetsova (AIN) needed a gold medal. He captured seven medals on the World Judo Tour, the last time being in Ulaanbaatar last year where she obtained a beautiful silver medal, but that gold medal was looming in Dushanbe.

With two bronze medals already this season, earned at the Tbilisi Grand Slam and Upper Austria Grand Prix, we could feel that Gultaj Mammadaliyeva was in good shape and growing in strength. She confirmed that impression today, qualifying for the -52kg final. On her way there she managed to shock Iraoui (MAR) in the quarter-final straight off the starting line, such was her determination and explosivity in Dushanbe today.

It was with one shido apiece, that Mammadaliyeva and Kuznetsova entered the golden score period. It took 3 minutes and 30 seconds for Kuznetsova to finally score ippon with an armlock.

Khorloodoi Bishrelt (UAE) and Sita Kadamboeva (UZB) qualified for the first contest for a bronze medal. The normal time ended with only penalties displayed on the scoreboard, two for Bishrelt, one for Kadamboeva. 2 minutes and 20 seconds of additional time were necessary for Khorloodoi Bishrelt to take the bronze medal.

Joana Diogo (POR) and Yeqing Zhu (CHN) faced each other in the second contest for a bronze medal. Pushing her opponent down without attacking, Yeqing Zhu received a first penalty, but the Chinese judoka kept pushing and putting pressure on and eventually concluded on the floor with a shime-waza and a submission for ippon and a bronze medal.