Amandine Buchard surprises again with Grand Prix gold in Jeju

World bronze medallist Amandine Buchard (FRA) defeated European bronze medallist Maryna Chernyak (UKR) to win the first gold medal of the Judo Grand Prix, Jeju 2014. Buchard, 19, will move into the world top 10 with the victory and will no doubt remain there for the foreseeable future. The French starlet opened the scoring with a waza-ari from a sode-tsurikomi-goshi and went back to the same technique to add a second to secure the gold.

In the first semi-final Shira Rishony (ISR) was dispatched by a confident and composed Amandine Buchard (FRA). Rishony was penalised for a false attack after 30 seconds before her French rival secured her place in the final by ippon after just 52 seconds. In the second semi-final Chernyak profited from an indiscretion by Qingdao Grand Prix winner Monica UNGUREANU (ROU) in a scoreless content. The Romanian was separated from her opponent by a solitary shido after four minutes to limit her chances of back-to-back Grand Prix medals as she entered the repechage.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Asian Games bronze medallist JEONG Bo Kyeong (KOR) against  UNGUREANU. JEONG made sure the medal would remain in Korea by defeating her Romanian opponent by ippon with just over a minute gone. The second bronze medal was won by a delighted RISHONY who outfought Glasgow European Open silver medallist Melanie CLEMENT (FRA) who crucially received two shido penalties in the final minute to separate the rivals after four minutes.