Tokyo (AFP)
France's Amandine Buchard (-52kg), a gold contender, qualified for the semi-finals on the second day of the World Judo Championships on Monday in Tokyo.
Buchard (24), world No. 1 in the category and world bronze medalist a year ago, was expeditious in her first three bouts of the day, all won by ippon in two minutes maximum.
For a place in the final, she will face the Russian Natalia Kuziutina.
The other semi-final pits Japanese Uta Abe, the reigning world champion, against Kosovar Majlinda Kelmendi, the reigning Olympic champion.
On the men's side, Kilian Le Blouch, the only Frenchman in the -66kg class, lost in his second match against Uzbek Sardor Nurillaev after more than two minutes in the golden score (the extra time after the four minutes of fight).
© 2019 AFP