Gabriella Willems used to say that she is “a diesel engine”, that it must therefore chain a few competitions before being efficient… Well, the Liègeoise started it (its engine), this Saturday, in Abu Dhabi. Engaged in -70 kg, Gaby has, in fact, qualified for the final where she will compete for the gold medal against the Greek Teltsidou, 26, whom she has met and beaten once in the past, in 2018, in… Abu Dhabi! But, at the time, it was in the round of 16. Nothing to do with the challenge that awaits him and which could constitute a new start after his injury and his long rehabilitation.
To start her day, Gaby was pitted against the modest representative of Saudi Arabia, Fai Alsulbud, who resisted her… sixteen seconds. More seriously, our compatriot then found the Slovenian Pogacnik (30 years old / n°19), whom she dismissed by ippon. Arrived in the quarter-finals, Gaby took a little longer to get rid of the Israeli Goshen (22 years old / n ° 27) on armbar.
In the half, no reunion with the Swiss Lengweiler, but with the Italian Esposito (20 years old / n ° 51). An opponent against whom she had already fought twice with a record of a victory everywhere. In Riccione for our compatriot but, above all, in Tashkent, in the second round of the World Cup, for the Italian! This time it was a different story, with Gaby taking charge of the fight, despite an (unfair) passivity penalty. After turning her rival over for the first time (an unrewarded move), she tackled her to the ground indisputably shortly after the halfway point, taking her revenge.
