Maria Laborde Places Seventh at World Masters

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – Maria Laborde (Kenosha, Wis. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) earned the top finish at the Judo World Masters for a member of Team USA since 2016 on Tuesday, placing seventh at 48kg on the opening day of the event in Jerusalem.

2022 Judo World Masters Results

Ranked No. 21 going into the tournament, Laborde fought four-time Grand Slam medalist Baasankhuu Bavuudorj (MGL) in the opening round for the second time this season. While the Mongolian took their last match en route to winning bronze at the Hungary Grand Slam, Laborde controlled this one, forcing Bavuudorj into two penalties early in the match. Laborde was awarded a waza-ari in the third minute, but the call was waved off. Less than 30 seconds later, however, Bavuudorj was given a penalty for non-combativity and Laborde was awarded the match.

In the round of 16, Laborde fought Marusa Stangar (SLO) who was fresh off a win over World No. 6 Milica Nikolic (SRB). The athletes felt each other out early in the match before Laborde threw Stangar for the deciding waza-ari score in the third minute.

One match away from the medal rounds, Laborde was caught by World No. 7 Catarina Costa (POR) who threw the American for ippon (instant win) in the final 30 seconds before going on to win bronze. The final match would be a penalty game between Laborde and 2022 Senior World bronze medalist Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ) who took the win, three penalties to two in the third minute.

Two of Laborde’s teammates each earned top-16 finishes and crucial Olympic qualifying points in the 52kg division.

Two-time Olympian Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center) threw 2022 Baku Grand Slam bronze medalist Sita Kadamboeva (UZB) for a waza-ari score in the final 30 seconds of their opening round match. In the 16, Delgado fought the reigning 48kg Olympic Champion, Distria Krasniqi (KOS), taking the match to Golden Score (sudden death overtime) before losing by three penalties to one. Krasniqi, who has medaled in every international event this season, added to her podium tally with a fourth career Masters gold medal after earning titles at 48kg in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Six-time Senior World Team member Katelyn Jarrell (East Greenwich, R.I. / NYAC / Mayo Quanchi) won opening bout on three non-combativity penalties against Joana Diogo (POR), but was thrown and pinned for a pair of waza-ari scores by Chelsie Giles (GBR) – the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist who went on to win silver in Jerusalem.

Three-time Senior World Team member Maria Holguin (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo) fought 2018 Junior World medalist Kaja Kajzer (SLO) and was submitted in the first minute.

Top eight and U.S. results are as follows:

Men’s 60kg
1. Harim Lee (KOR)
2. Ryuju Nagayama (JPN)
3. Balabay Aghayev (AZE)
3. Yung Wei Yang (TPE)
5. Turan Bayramov (AZE)
5. Giorgi Sardalashvili (GEO)
7. Karamat Huseynov (AZE)
7. Francisco Garrigos (ESP)

Women’s 48kg
1. Shirine Boukli (FRA)
2. Wakana Koga (JPN)
3. Assunta Scutto (ITA)
3. Catarina Costa (POR)
5. Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ)
5. Narantsetseg Ganbaatar (MGL)
7. Maria Laborde (Kenosha, Wis. / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center)
7. Shira Rishony (ISR)

Men’s 66kg
1. Baruch Shmailov (ISR)
2. Daikii Bouba (FRA)
3. Walide Khyar (FRA)
3. Denis Vieru (MDA)
5. Sardor Nurillaev (UZB)
5. Baskhuu Yondonperenlei (MGL)
7. Mukhriddin Tilovov (UZB)
7. Tal Flicker (ISR)

Women’s 52kg
1. Distria Krasniqi (KOS)
2. Chelsie Giles (GBR)
3. Reka Pupp (HUN)
3. Odette Giuffrida (ITA)
5. Gefen Primo (ISR)
7. Ana Perez Box (ESP)
7. Amadine Buchard (FRA)
7. Diyora Keldiyorova (UZB)

Also Competed: Angelica Delgado (Miami, Fla. / NYAC / Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center), 1-1
Katelyn Jarrell (East Greenwich, R.I. / NYAC / Mayo Quanchi), 1-1

Women’s 57kg
1. Christa Deguchi (CAN)
2. Sarah Leonie Cysique (FRA)
3. Mimi Huh (KOR)
3. Tsukasas Yoshida (JPN)
5. Nora Gjakova (KOS)
5. Chen-Ling Lien (TPE)
7. Lele Nairne (GBR)
7. Rafaela Silva (BRA)

Also Competed: Mariah Holguin (San Antonio, Texas / Universal Judo)