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Euranie comeback gathers pace with Grand Prix gold

Euranie comeback gathers pace with Grand Prix gold

12 Sep 2014 18:15
by Mark Pickering - IJF
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

Baku Grand Slam winner Annabelle EURANIE (FRA) is enjoying a second life on the tatami after returning to the sport last year after a six-year break from competition. The 32-year-old, who took bronze in Rijeka a year ago, defeated former European silver medallist Joana RAMOS (POR) and looks more imposing with every competition. EURANIE took control of the -52kg final by scoring a waza-ari from an uchi-mate with exactly 60 seconds left and fashioned an opening in ne-waza as she held down RAMOS for 15 seconds to win by wazari-awasette-ippon.

The first semi-final saw EURANIE outthink and outwork European bronze medallist Gili COHEN (ISR) as she scored a waza-ari and yuko after her opponent opened the scoring with a yuko. In the second semi-final RAMOS denied 37-year-old Ilse HEYLEN (BEL) with a clinical performance. RAMOS showed her intent by surging in front with a yuko from an uchi-mata after 15 seconds. HEYLEN plotted and pushed but RAMOS sealed the win with osaekomi-waza as her Belgian foe was unable to escape within 15 seconds to lose by wazari-awasette-ippon.
 
The first bronze medal was clinched by Almaty Grand Prix bronze medallist Raquel SILVA (BRA), the older sister of Brazil’s first female world champion Rafaela SILVA, who defeated the evergreen HEYLEN of Belgium. SILVA took the initiative with ashi-waza for waza-ari before trapping HEYLEN in a yoko-shiho-gatame hold for 15 seconds to win by wazari-awasette-ippon. The second bronze medal was won by COHEN who did enough to see off 19-year-old Budapest Grand Prix silver medallist Odette GIUFFRIDA (ITA). COHEN was penalised for passivity while the Italian teenager, who won Junior World bronze last year, was penalised twice in a scoreless contest.  
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