-78kg Gold: Olek (GER)
The final was between the World No. 1 Anna Monta Olek of Germany and a relative unknown Japanese player, Mizuki Sugimura. The German won through an Uchimata that scored waza-ari. Sugimura did manage to score with Tewaza just moments before the match ended but since only yuko was given, it was Olek who got the gold.
Said Olek: "I’m very relieved to get a medal after finishing fifth last week. The difference this time was purely tactical; instead of taking big risks like last week, I stuck strictly to the plan and avoided mistakes. It was a close call at the end against a very tough, shorter Japanese opponent who kept blocking my distance. Qingdao has been a great surprise; it's a massive, beautiful city right by the ocean and the venue had a much better warm-up area this time. Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics though, my main goal is to stay healthy and injury-free. First, I’m taking a 10-day holiday to Hawaii, followed by a training camp in Brazil and a competition in Switzerland."
+78kg Gold: Startseva (RUS)
The final was a contest between two really big-sized players, Elis Startseva (RUS) and Lea Fontaine (FRA), with the Russian being the more athletic of the two. When both of these players locked horns with Georgian-styled grips, it was Startseva who managed to take Fontaine down. Although there as no score, she was able to turn her French opponent over and pin her for the win.
Startseva said: "I feel great joy because this victory is crucial for my Olympic qualification and for our team, especially after losing at the Grand Slam last week. In Mongolia, we arrived two weeks early but heavy workloads and tough acclimatisation prevented me from recovering. For China, I prioritised rest, which made the winning difference. Looking ahead to the Baku World Championships, I am ready to take the throne. The goal is strictly gold in both the individual and team events, though the individuals means the most to me. My plan for the Los Angeles Olympics is to collect qualification points intelligently. I’m aiming to win the European championships and world championships in this period. So, there are no summer holidays for me, just one week of rest at home and then it is straight back to hard work and training."
