Successful pitch for gold by Kayla Harrison in Tbilisi

Olympic champion Kayla Harrison (USA) won -78kg gold as she defeated world number two Audrey TCHEUMEO (FRA) with a mercurial display in Tbilisi. In a meeting between former world champions, HARRISON was superior as she took her chance in ne-waza by grafting until she trapped her French foe in osaekomi.

TCHEUMEO who was making her return from injury having been absent from the IJF World Judo Tour since November, submitted while under enormous pressure on the ground. HARRISON, who started her day by beating Gemma GIBBONS (GBR) in yet another rematch of their Olympic final, won all four fights by ippon and was not penalised at all during her scintillating outing as she pitched a perfect record. 

In the first semi-final world silver medallist TCHEUMEO bested Dusseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist JOO Abigel (HUN) in a contest which remained in the balance for all four minutes with no scores registered in that time. The Frenchwoman prevailed on shido penalties to edge closer to the summit of the -78kg category. In the second semi-final HARRISON put on a clinic against world number 12 Assunta GALEONE (ITA). The American judoka scored a waza-ari from a harai-makikomi before securing her place in the final by osaekomi-waza as HARRISON was in total control.

The first bronze medal was won by Olympic silver medallist Kerstin THIELE (GER) who beat GALEONE with an ippon-seoi-nage and ko-soto-gake combination worthy of a yuko and the German athlete confirmed her place on the podium in osaekomi. The second bronze medal contest was won by former world champion SOL Kyong (PRK) who was busy on the ground in ne-waza as she smoothly transitioned into holding down her Hungarian opponent with a kami-shiho-gatame for 20 seconds and ippon.