Tina Trstenjak defeats current and past World Champion in Zagreb

Tokyo Grand Slam winner Tina TRSTENJAK (SLO) ruled the -63kg category on Saturday as she saw off current world champion Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (FRA) in the final. TRSTENJAK, who was seeking her first victory over her fabled French foe after three defeats against previously, took the lead with a waza-ari but AGBEGNENOU was not fazed and fought back.

The 22-year-old countered an uchi-mata to roll her Slovenian rival over onto her back but was countered herself as TRSTENJAK retained control with a tate-shiho-gatame subduing AGBEGNENOU for 15 seconds and a magnificent win.            

TRSTENJAK said: “This is really important to me because of the points towards Rio 2016. I came here to win and I’m very happy. I know I beat the current and former world champions today but to me this is already in the past and I now look forward to fighting in my next event which I will determine with my coaches.”

In the first semi-final AGBEGNENOU defeated Tbilisi Grand Prix bronze medallist Edwige GWEND (ITA). The French fighter, who extended her perfect head-to-head record against the Italian to 6-0, was dominant once again as she opened the scoring after a minute with a yuko from a koshi-guruma. AGBEGNENOU added a second yuko and a waza-ari before picking up the Italian fighter with ease to win by ippon. In the second semi-final world number two GERBI was undone by TRSTENJAK who outlasted the big-throwing Israeli judoka. GERBI, who had won four of their previous five meetings, was held down with mune-gatame for 15 seconds and ran out of energy in the closing minute.

The first bronze medal was won by 2013 world champion GERBI against Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Agata OZDOBA (POL). The Polish fighter lost out by a shido as GERBI showed her tenacity by digging deep to force her way onto the podium. The second bronze medal was claimed by GWEND who returned to winning ways by defeating Tbilisi Grand Prix bronze medallist Martyna TRAJDOS (GER). The hard-working Italian fighter scored a waza-ari with an ouchi-gari which was not the cleanest technique as she fell towards her opponent but TRAJDOS could not issue a response.