Davis takes Jeju Grand Prix silver in Korea
Nekoda Davis took home a well deserved silver medal today in Korea, at the final Grand Prix competition of the year. Davis defeated 2013 World Champion, Rafaela Silva on her route to the final and added to a third Grand Prix medal to her previous two so far this year.
Davis faced German, Johanna Mueller in her first contest. The fight went the full distance with Davis coming out the eventual winner in golden score after Mueller picked up a second penalty.
Moving into her next contest, Davis was up against 2013 World Champion Rafaela Silva. It was another hard fought contest, with Silva going a yuko score up inside the first minute. It wasn’t until the final 30 seconds that Davis managed to get the better of Silva when she threw for a waza-ari score.
In the semi-final Davis came up against Minju Kim (KOR), who had already defeated 2014 European Champion Automne Pavia (FRA) in the preliminary rounds. It was a contest that went the full distance again, with the win going to Davis on penalties.
In the final Davis faced Jan-Di Kim (KOR). In a close fought contest, it was a yuko score from Kim that took the win and the gold medal, leaving Britain’s Davis to settle for the silver.
Speaking on the win Davis said: “I’m happy to be back on the rostrum and looking forward to competing and training in Japan next week.”
Elite Performance coach Kate Howey added: “Nekoda fought well today and it’s good to see her confidence grow fight by fight as she hit form. This sets her up nicely for the Japan Grand Slam next week and as always at the moment it is 180 points towards qualification for Rio”
Kim Renicks (-48kg) defeated Andrea Gomez (VEN) before losing out to eventual bronze medal winner Dilara Lokmanhekim of Turkey.
Colin Oates (-66kg) defeated Glasgow European Open champion Kilian Le Blouch (FRA) but failed to overcome Tal Flicker of Israel in the next round.
Ashley McKenzie (-60kg) was unable to progress past the first round, after being defeated by Javier Guedez (VEN) by ippon.
Tomorrow sees six more British judo players in action with Megan Fletcher and Sally Conway both fighting in the -70kg category. Fletcher is in a decent run of form and faces Irina Gazieva (RUS) in the first round while Conway has the winner of Yun-Ting Chen (TPE) and Iana Kriukova (RUS).
Alice Schlesinger (-63kg) will be up against Andreja Dakovic (CRO) as she looks to continue her solid post-World Championships form.
Danny Williams and Patrick Dawson have both secured byes to the -73kg second round with Williams set to face Sami Chouchi (BEL) while Dawson has the winner of Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Zelimkhan Ozdoev (RUS) and Damian Szwarnowiecki (POL).
Glasgow European Open gold medallist Owen Livesey will hope to finish the year on a high as he faces Suk Woong Hong (KOR) in the second round.
Gemma Gibbons (-78kg) has enjoyed a strong second half to 2015 and steps on the mat on Saturday 28 for a first round match-up with Tiara Artha Garthia (INA) while Sarah Adlington (+78kg) continues a busy end to the year as she faces Da-Eun Park (KOR).
In the -90kg Andy Burns takes on World Number 7 Kirill Denisov (RUS) in the second round while Frazer Chamberlain has the experienced Karolis Bauza (LTU) in his first fight. Philip Awiti-Alcaraz (-100kg) rounds off the British competitors as he faces Georgian Aleksandre Mskhaladze.
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