Butkereit’s groundwork masterclass seals European sweep in Tashkent -70kg

Miriam Butkereit turned the -70kg final at the Tashkent Grand Slam into a showcase of experience and composure. The German judoka faced France’s rising talent Melkia Auchecorne, who had been on fire all day. In the final, though, Butkereit slowed things down, controlled the grips and rhythm, and waited for her moment.

That moment arrived on the ground. After transitioning into ne-waza, Butkereit locked in a hold-down and kept Auchecorne pinned until ippon was awarded. It was a calm, clinical finish that underlined why experience still matters when the pressure is highest.

Calm judo, cold finish: Butkereit rules the -70kg tatami

Butkereit’s path to gold had already run through another French opponent. In the semi-final against Clémence Eme, she again used her reach and tactical control to shut down most of Eme’s attacks. A controlled pin on the mat decided the contest and booked her place in the final.

Europe dominated the category from start to finish. Auchecorne delivered one of the standout runs of the day, opening her campaign by taking out top seed Aoife Coughlan from Australia. She then continued her charge with victories over Lu Liu of China and four-time Grand Slam winner Elisavet Teltsidou of Greece to earn her spot in the final.

France, coming off a tough first day in Tashkent with no deep runs, finally got its breakthrough in this division. Eme produced steady, disciplined judo in the preliminaries, including a key win over Japan’s Erina Ike, one of the big names in the draw. She completed her day by beating Lu Liu in the first bronze medal match, securing a spot on the podium.

Teltsidou also fought her way back to a medal. In a grueling second bronze contest against Kamila Badurova of Russia, she pushed through an extended golden score. A yuko made the difference and added a ninth Grand Slam medal to the Greek judoka’s collection.

Source: JudoInside