Topolovec’s Uchi-mata Seals -52 kg Gold

Croatia’s Tihea Topolovec captured -52 kg gold with a decisive Uchi-mata against France’s Amandine Buchard. The final brought a breakthrough moment for Topolovec, who earned her first Grand Slam medal after moving down from -57 kg.

The -52 kg field included Buchard and Diyora Keldiyorova, two athletes who could easily have been expected to dominate the medal race. Keldiyorova, returning to international competition, did not reach the final block, while Buchard advanced through the draw despite being unseeded.

Buchard arrived in the final chasing gold and showed the strategy and skill that have defined her career. But Topolovec did not allow her opponent’s record to dictate the contest. The match stayed balanced until the closing minute, when the Croatian found space for Uchi-mata and scored Waza-ari.

With little time left, Buchard could not create the winning attack she needed. She finished with silver, while Topolovec celebrated a major result from 65th place in the ranking.

Topolovec’s late Uchi-mata turned an even final into a first Grand Slam gold.

The bronze medals also went to European athletes. Israel’s Gefen Primo defeated Czechia’s Tereza Bodnarova after a fast-changing contest. Primo scored first with Waza-ari, but Bodnarova responded with two yuko scores. Under pressure, Primo raised the pace again and threw for Ippon to secure the medal.

In the other bronze medal contest, Hungary’s Róża Gyertyas overcame Poland’s Aleksandra Kaleta. Kaleta applied pressure and attacked well against the world bronze medallist, but Gyertyas took the contest into ne-waza and finished with a submission.

Topolovec left the event with the biggest medal of her career so far. Buchard’s silver, plus bronze medals for Primo and Gyertyas, completed a -52 kg podium dominated by European judoka.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation