Inside news
Gemma Howell wins back-to-back Grand Prix
Gemma Howell wins back-to-back Grand Prix
27 Jul 2019 19:35
Mark Pickering - IJF
Tino Maric - CJF / Croatian Judo Federation

Budapest Grand Prix winner Gemma Howell (GBR) won her second IJF Grand Prix title in as many weeks as she beat three-time World Judo Masters winner Kim Polling (NED) in the U70kg final. Polling, who starred in the preliminaries with a powerful and focused showing, came undone against the Wolverhampton Judo Club product who hooked in for a waza-ari score as her mother Suzanne celebrated in the stands just as she did in Budapest.

In the first semi-final world number five Michaela Polleres (AUT) fell to Polling by ippon with two minutes remaining. In the second semi-final Howell held down European Games silver medallist Sanne Van Dijke (NED) for 20 seconds and ippon.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Van Dijke who went ahead with a waza-ari score against Summer Universiade silver medallist Madina Taimazova (RUS) who was eventually disqualified for her third shido for failing to tidy her judogi which had come undone.

The second bronze medal was won by Polleres who dominated former world number one Kelita Zupancic (CAN) with two scores in just 70 seconds to emphatically seal a place on the medal podium.