GB judoka bag 6 medals at Perth Oceania Open

GB judo bagged 6 medals on the opening day of the Perth Oceania Open as 6 judoka all made a medal contest.

A number of our Paris Potential fighters have headed down under to compete at the Perth Oceania Open. The event carries 700 world ranking points for the winner – the same as a Grand Prix event.

In the -57kg category two GB Judo fighters battled it out for gold as Acelya Toprak (Darren Hawney & Fitzroy Davies; Metro Judo Club & Relentless Judo) and Lele Nairne (Bradley Stoke; Pete Douglas) both progressed to the final.

Toprak had an opening-round bye before defeating Qona Christie (NZL) to qualify for the semi-finals where she defeated Jana Ziegler (GER) to make the final.

Nairne meanwhile had an opening-round victory against Jing-Fang Tang (SGP) before a quarter-final victory against Jasmine Martin (RSA) booked her place in the semi-finals where she defeated Charisma Taylor (AUS) to set up the all-GB final.

It was a cagy affair in the final as both fighters cancelled each other out. In the final 20 seconds, Nairne registered a waza-ari score. Toprak attacked in the following exchange, needing a score of her own to level or win the contest, but was countered for a second waza-ari score.

The result saw Nairne win gold and Toprak silver.

Also making her respective final was Amy Platten (Redbridge JC; Guy Platten) in the -48kg category. Platten defeated Anne Suzuki (USA) in the quarter-finals before defeating number 1 seed and 2021 World Championship 5^th place finisher, Keisy Perafan (ARG) to set up a final against 2^nd seed Maria-Celia Laborde (USA).

With nothing between the pair the contest entered Golden Score. With each fighter having two shidos to their name it was Laborde who registered a waza-ari score in the 7^th minute of the contest to claim the gold medal, meaning Platten had to settle for silver.

Sam Hall (Club: Ryecroft; Coach: Fitzroy Davies) defeated Hok Ching Choi (HKG) in the quarter-finals before defeat to David Pulkrabek (CZE) saw him progress to the bronze medal contest against Maximilian Standke (GER).

Hall wasted no time registering a waza-ari in the opening exchange before pinning his opponent for ippon score so secure the bronze medal.

Also battling it out for bronze medals were Michael Fryer (Rush Judo; Laurie Rush) and Eric Ham (Glossop; Geoff Ham).

Competing in the -66kg category, Fryer defeated Ivo Dos Santos (AUS) in the opening round before a quarter-final defeat to Reda Seddouki (FRA). A Repechage victory against Luukas  Saha (FIN) set up a bronze medal contest against a familiar opponent in Lennart Slamberger (GER).

The pair previously met at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam last week where Fryer produced some spectacular throws to win. It was a closer encounter this week as the contest entered Golden Score with nothing between the pair. As the contest entered its 7^th minute Fryer produced some great newaza and applied an arm lock to force his opponent to concede. The result saw Fryer win bronze.

Ham had an opening-round bye before defeating Keisei Nakano (PHI) in Golden Score to progress to the semi-finals. A defeat by a waza-ari score to Martin Hojak (SLO) meant Ham would fight for bronze against Joshua Green (IRL).

Ham needed a little over 30-seconds to secure the bronze medal, throwing his opponent for ippon score to secure the bronze medal.

Meanwhile on the final day of the European U23 Championships in Sarajevo. Oliver Barratt (Dragons Judo Academy; Stephen Abberley) only needed a waza-ari score to defeat Francesco Basso (ITA) in the opening round. Round two saw Barratt defeated by current European Junior Championship bronze medallist Mikheil Japaridze (GEO).

Ryan Rijksen-Salman (Bradley Stoke; Pete Douglas) was defeated by Ismayil Zamanov (AZE) in the opening round.

Tomorrow will see Jemima Yeats-Brown (Ryecroft; Ian Oliver), Lachlan Moorhead (Sheffield JC; Matt Moorhead), Jamal Petgrave (Westcroft; Andy Ede) and Rhys Thompson (Enfield JC; George Hyslop) in action on the final day of the Perth Oceania Open. 

Preliminary Round action at the Perth Oceania Open will start at 02:00am on Sunday with Final block to start at 09:00 (GMT).

Watch the action live on live.ijf.org