Bronze for Giles at European Championships
Chelsie Giles continued her impressive Championship record, claiming bronze on the opening day of the European Championships in Montpellier.
Giles entered a hotly contested -52kg category, which saw 6 of the top 7 judoka in the world rankings in action. Giles entered as the 3rd seed and, following an opening round bye, overcame Maria Siderot (POR) and Gefen Primo to book her place in the semi-finals.
Giles faced number two seed and the woman she defeated to become European Champion in 2022, home favourite, Amandine Buchard (FRA) for a place in the final.
With the fighters both having two shidos a piece at the end of the regulated 4-minutes, the contest entered Golden Score. Unfortunately for Giles, defeat in the opening stages of Golden Score meant she would contest for the bronze medal against Reka Pupp (HUN).
Giles went behind to a waza-ari score but secured her second European Championship bronze medal with a throw for ippon score.
Elsewhere on the opening day there were opening-round defeats for Nekoda Smythe-Davis and Lele Nairne in the -57kg category, against Seija Ballhaus (GER) and Nino Loladza (GEO) respectively.
In the -66kg category Sam Hall and Charlie Young were both defeated by eventual medallists in their opening-round contests. Hall was defeated by bronze medallist Walide Khyar (FRA), whilst Young exited the competition to silver medallist David Garcia-Torne (ESP).
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