Canada at the egde of the seat for potential judo gold for Klimkait

Jessica Klimkait is on her way to the final but will first have to win against Sarah Leonie Cysique of France, a dangerous opponent. The third day of the Olympics saw the favourites qualifying for the semis. Tsukasa Yoshida of Japan will meet with Nora Gjakova of Kosovo in the other semi final.

Gjakova won her pool U57kg after victories against Dutch Sanne Verhagen and Kaja Kajzer (SLO). Kajzer surprised former World Champion Sumiya Dorjsuren with a fast waza-ari after 10 seconds in the match and won that contest. Verhagen overcame the 410year old Sabrina Filzmoser, the oldest in the circuit, the oldest at the Olympic Games. She said farewell after an ovation from the present athlete who understood what the Austrian meant for judo. Gjakova continued and defeated Kajzer in the quarter final. Kajzer will meet with Timna Nelson-Levy of Israel for a chance for bronze. Nelson-Levy lost to Yoshida in the quarter final who was clinical.

The Canadian World Champion Klimkait won two contests against Ivelina Ilieva (BUL) and Julia Kowalczyk of Poland. The Polish won against Telma Monteiro of Portugal, another monument in her class. Sarah Cysique had an open pool with victories over Korean Kim JiSu and Georgian Eteri Liparteliani. Both german speaking athletes Miryam Roper (PAN) and Theresa Stoll (GER) lost in their first contest.

Klimkait and Cysique have met several times and Klimkait leads by 4-1 but the last victory was for Cysique at the IJF Masters in January. Yoshida is the favourite against Gjakova. The Japanese middleweight defeated Gjakova four times before. Gjakova will need to have all concentration while her brother is also still in the race for a medal in the men's U73kg category

Liparteliani and Timna Nelson Levy have the best papers to qualify for the bronze battle, but at the Olympic Games any surprise can happen, so far though most of the favourite proceed their medal route.