Anicka van Emden cherishes long expected gold in Samsun

It was a long time ago since Anicka van Emden won a gold medal at World level, way too long. But in Samsun she finally kissed the gold after more than a hand ful of bronzeware. The final opposed VAN EMDEN (NED), bronze medallist of the 2013 World Championships (Rio) and the third seeded athlete of the category, Hilde DREXLER (AUT), her teammate and second seed, Kathrin UNTERWURZACHER (AUT) having been eliminated during the preliminary rounds.

The first strong attack came from the Dutch side, VAN EMDEN launching a right-side shoulder technique for no score. The second attack of the Dutch athlete was more precise, her sode-tsuri-komi-goshi being rewarded with a yuko, while DREXLER was also penalised for passivity. Despite a stronger kumikata (grip), the Austrian was incapable of finding any opportunity to score and was even penalised a second time, VAN EMDEN easily controlling until the final gong.

Anicka VAN EMDEN said: “I am very happy. I felt very good all day long. I was the top seeded athlete of the category. But it doesn’t guarantee the victory anymore because the level is very high. It feels really good to have a perfect day and to stand on the top of the podium at the end. I won several medals over the past months, but I am back on the top and I am happy“.

In the first bronze medal contest, Ekaterina VALKOVA (RUS) and Alice SCHLESINGER (GBR), who is now competing for Great Britain, were opposed for a place on the podium. SCHLESINGER demonstrated her perfect technique, throwing her opponent with a superb koshi-guruma technique, VALKOVA landing in a bridge position. This attempt from the Russian to escape, automatically gave the victory to the British, as bridge position is not allowed.

The second Dutch athlete, Juul FRANSSEN, and the second British fighter of the category, Gemma HOWELL, met for the last spot on the podium. A few seconds were necessary for FRANSSEN to score a first waza-ari with an opportunistic counterattack. Then she just had to control her opponent to make sure that she was the one the step on the podium.