Irina Dolgova repeats in Abu Dhabi for Russia

Russian Irina Dolgova won in Abu Dhabi for the second time as the young Russian showed all the promise and potential that everyone knows she possesses in spades. Rio 2016 Olympian Dolgova, 22, repeated her 2015 Grand Slam victory in the U.A.E to clinch her second gold medal on this stage with a nail-biting triumph over four-time Grand Slam medallist Milica Nikolic (SRB).

European silver medallist Dolgova prevailed in golden score when Nikolic, who will have to wait to capture her first Grand Slam title, was penalised with a second shido in added time.

In the first semi-final Olympic and world bronze medallist Otgontsetseg Galbadrakh (KAZ) fell to Dolgova who threw her Asian opponent with a drop seoi-nage after one minute and 41 seconds of golden score. In the second semi-final Rio 2016 Olympic champion Paula Pareto (ARG) lost to Nikolic in golden score. It was all equal after four minutes with a single waza-ari registered by both judoka to send the contest into overtime. Pareto picked up her third shido for dropping and was disqualified which sent Nikolic into the final.

The first bronze medal contest was won by Pareto who defeated Antalya Grand Prix silver medallist Shira Rishony (IJF) by scoring two waza-ari without reply.

The second bronze medal was won by Galbadrakh who needed much energy for London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Csernoviczki Eva (HUN) as the Kazakh outworked her opponent to finish with the only two scores of the contest. Csernoviczki failed to impose herself in the contest as Galbadrakh registered two waza-ari to earn a place on the podium.

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