Silver for Powell on final day of Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

On the third and final day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, Natalie Powell claimed silver to record her best Grand Slam result since October 2019.

2021 bronze medallist, Powell (Irfon JC; Mark Earl) certainly lived up to her pre-event seeding. Following an opening-round bye, 2^nd seed Powell defeated Sophie Berger (BEL) and 2021 World Junior Champion, Anna-Monta Olek (GER) to win her pool and progress to the Semi-Finals to face double Olympic medallist and former World Champion, Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA).

As the Semi-Final contest neared the midway point, Powell threw Tcheumeo for ippon score to progress to the Final to face recent World Championship silver medallist Zhenzhao Ma (CHN).

In the Final, Powell was searching for an ippon score but was countered by Ma and thrown for ippon score. The result saw Powell finish 2^nd to improve upon the bronze medal she claimed in 2021.

Emma Reid (Redbridge JC; Steve Sandy) had an opening round bye before fighting Loriana Kuka (KOS) in Round 2. Reid survived an early scare as Kuka went to ground in the opening exchange and pinned Reid in an osaekomi hold down, but Reid was able to break free before a waza-ari score could be recorded.

Kuka later registered a waza-ari score as the contest entered the final 30-seconds to progress to the next round.

Jamal Petgrave (Westcroft; Andy Ede) overcame a tricky opening-round contest against Anri Egutudze (POR). Petgrave registered a waza-ari score in Golden Score to progress to Round 2 where he was defeated by 3^rd seed Jesper Smink (NED) after picking up a third shido in Golden Score.

In the -100kg Rhys Thompson (Enfield JC; George Hyslop) was defeated by Dzhafar Kostoev (UAE) in Round 2, following an opening round bye.

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