Perfect Mayra Aguiar claims gold in Tyumen

Olympic bronze medallist Mayra Aguiar of Brazil made her eagerly-awaited return to action in Tyumen and looked like she had never been away as she issued a statement to her rivals a month away from the World Championships. Aguiar was due to meet American Olympic champion Kayla Harrison who returned from a year-long injury-lay-off injury in June - but the American strained her neck in her semi-final was unable to compete in the final.

Harrison defeated 19-year-old Rome European Open winner Umeki Mami (JPN) in the semi-final to guarantee a Grand Slam medal. The revered American had already been in two golden score contests by this point as she won a rematch of the London 2012 Olympic final against Gemma Gibbons (GBR) and defeated Vera Moskalyuk (RUS) in her opening contest. Harrison prevailed by a yuko score with 70 seconds left having trailed at this point with two shido penalties to her name. In the second semi-final Aguiar emerged triumphant against World Military Championships bronze medallist Daria Pogorzelec. The Brazilian ace scored ippon after just 48 seconds as looked like she didn’t miss a step while on the sidelines.  

The first bronze medal was won by Pogorzelec as Europe prevailed over Asia and LI Yang (CHN). Pogorzelec went ahead with a yuko and was good value for her victory as she added a waza-ari and a second yuko. Despite her lead the method of victory was not courtesy of a score but rather the inactivity of her opponent who received her fourth and final penalty for passivity to receive hansoku-make. The second bronze medal went to Tokyo Grand Slam bronze medallist Okamura Tomomi (JPN) who edged out countrywoman Umeki. Okamura won the domestic bragging rights as a result of a yuko from a foot sweep.