Golden Gemma tops the Grand Slam podium again
Gemma Howell continues her medal winning form as she took gold on day 2 of the Zagreb Grand Prix in Croatia. Howell adds Zagreb Grand Prix gold to the gold she won earlier this month at the Budapest Grand Prix.
Gemma Howell (-70kg) defeated Emilie Sook (DEN), Anka Pogacnik (SLO) and Daria Pogorzelec (POL) to win Pool C and set up a semi-final contest against Sanne Van Dijke (NED). An ippon was enough to defeat Van Dijke and progress Howell to the final to face Kim Polling (NED). In the final with the scores level and the clock ticking ever closer to Golden Score, Howell scored a waza-ari in the dying seconds and held on for her second Grand Prix gold medal this month.
Eric Ham (-73kg) defeated Jose Antonio Aranda-Olalla (ESP), Anthony Zingg (GER) and Mohamed Mohyeldin (EGY) to set up a quarter-final match against world number 11 Tohar Butbul (ISR). Ham competed well above his world ranking 73 position would suggest but was unfortunately defeated by Butbul and relegated to the Repechage where he was also defeated by Artem Khomula (UKR) to finish in 7th position, matching his performance at the recent Montreal Grand Prix earlier this month.
London 2012 Olympian Daniel Williams (-73kg) drew upon his years of experience to defeat Keisei Nakano (PHI) and Erkhembayar Battogtokh (MON) to set up a third-round match against top seeded player Arthur Margelidon (CAN). Despite giving a good account of himself, it was the world number 9 Canadian that progressed to the quarter-finals.
Stuart McWatt (-81kg) defeated Cedrik Kalonga (COD) in the opening round to progress to face world number 7 Vedat Albayrak (TUR) in the second round. Despite McWatt beating the Turkish player at the recent European Games, unfortunately for McWatt history was not to repeat itself as he was defeated.
Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sally Conway (-70kg), seeded top of Pool C, defeated Ayuk Otay Arrey-Sophina (CMR) before losing out to Daria Pogorzelec (POL) in the second round.
2019 European Games silver medallist Alice Schlesinger (-63kg) had a bye in the opening round before being defeated by Junxia Yang (CHN) in the second round.
Following a bye in the opening round Lucy Renshall (-63kg) was defeated by Kathrin Unterwuzacher (AUT).
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