7th for Smythe-Davis on opening day of Tbilisi Grand Slam

Nekoda Smythe-Davis (Ealing Judo Club; Jo Crowley) recorded at 7^th place finish on the opening day of the Tbilisi Grand Slam in Georgia.

Competing in the -57kg category provided an early upset for the home crowd, after she progressed to round three at the expense of 3^rd seed Eteri Liparteliani, following an opening round bye. With both judoka with two penalty shidos each, Liparteliani was awarded a third for stepping out of the contest area.

Smythe-Davis overcame her round three contest against Yamini Mourya (IND). Already a waza-ari score up, Mourya was awarded a handsoku-make, progressing Smythe-Davies to the quarter-finals to face current European U23 Champion, Marica Perisic (SRB). A waza-ari score was enough to see Perisic proceed to the semi-finals whilst Smythe-Davis progressed to the repechage to face current World Champion Rafaela Silva (BRA). As the contest neared Golden Score, Silva countered a Smythe-Davis attack to register an ippon score in the final minute of the contest.

The defeat saw Smythe-Davis finish in 7^th place, to match her best Grand Slam result since her return to the tatami.

Lele Nairne (Bradley Stoke; Pete Douglas), who was competing alongside Smythe-Davis in the -57kg category, also defeated a home nation judoka in her opening-round contest. A waza-ari score was enough to see her defeat Nino Tsiklauri before she overcame Vera Zemanova (CZE) in Golden Score to set up a round three contest against world number 1, former World Champion and 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Jessica Klimkait (CAN). Unfortunately for Nairne, following the contest entering Golden Score, she was awarded a third penalty shido, handing victory to Klimkait.

Amy Platten (Redbridge JC; Guy Platten) faced former World Junior champion Hyekyeong Lee (KOR) in the opening round. With the contest seemingly looking destined for Golden Score, Lee registered a throw for waza-ari score in the final 15-seconds of the contest to progress to round two.

Competing in just his second career Grand Slam event, Alex Short (Edinburgh JC; Billy Cusack) had an opening round bye before facing 6^th seed Strahinja Buncic (SRB) in round two. A waza-ari score down heading into the closing stages of the contest, Short attacked to register a score, but was countered and thrown for ippon score.

Tomorrow sees five GB judoka in action, with the Preliminary Rounds starting at 6:00am (GMT).

You can watch all the action from the Tbilisi Grand Slam LIVE at live.ijf.org each day.

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