Representing the United Arab Emirates, Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko secured the gold medal in the women’s 78kg division, defeating France’s Kaila Issoufi in the final at the Baku National Gymnastics Arena, according to results reported.
Baku National Gymnastics Arena Podium Results
The tournament drew 44 competitors to the opening day of the 78kg bracket in Azerbaijan. Lytvynenko took the top step of the podium with her victory over Issoufi, who earned the silver medal. Japan’s Kurena Ikeda and Germany’s Anna Monta Olek claimed the bronze medals following the preliminary rounds and repechage blocks.
Fifth-place finishes went to Portugal’s Patricia Sampaio and the Netherlands’ Yael van Heemst. Colombia’s Brenda Olaya and Brazil’s Beatriz Freitas rounded out the podium placements in seventh place.
European Athletes Dominate Opening Round Bouts
Competition in the 44-athlete field opened with a series of quick throws and ground-fighting decisions across the tatami. Finland’s Emma Klapp advanced past Kazakhstan’s Aruna Jangeldina via a waza-ari score from a harai-makikomi throw. Austria’s Elena Deng defeated Cyprus’s Zanet Michaelidou with a harai-goshi at the 1:56 mark.
Australia’s Maria Swan progressed after Serbia’s Jovana Stjepanovic picked up three shido penalties at 3:44. Guinea’s Marie Branser similarly advanced past Madagascar’s Hajanirina-Zo Andrianborolona on three penalties at 2:41. Lithuania’s Migle Julija Dudenaite needed golden score to defeat Cuba’s Lianet Cardona, securing the win on a third penalty at 1:17 of extra time.
Ukraine’s Anna Kazakova pinned and threw her way past India’s Ishroop Naran with a combination of tsuri-goshi and ushiro-kesa-gatame in 2:37. Croatia’s Petrunjela Pavic edged Peru’s Camila Figueroa on a waza-ari from a harai-makikomi.
Additional First-Round Results
Venezuela’s Elvismar Rodriguez defeated Uzbekistan’s Baltinoy Kodirova with an o-suchi-gari and kuzure-kesa-gatame combination at 3:28. Poland’s Eliza Wroblewska overcame Lebanon’s Akrina Chaeb using an uchi-mata to kesa-gatame hold at 2:56.
China’s Ma Jiangjiao threw Belarus’s Slaviana Lilkevich with a hikikomi-gaeshi at 3:39. Brazil’s Beatriz Freitas locked in a tate-shio-gatame pin against Serbia’s Milica Zabic at 3:55 to take the win. Turkey’s Tuana Gerenay closed out opening action by defeating America’s Rotanna Onua with a kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame hold at 1:35.
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