Rafaela Silva wins first Paris Grand Slam gold

Rafaela Silva won her first Paris Grand Slam gold medal by defeating Mongolia’s Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo in the women’s under-63kg final. The Brazilian followed an early attack into groundwork and ended the contest with an armlock after only forty seconds.

Silva already held Olympic and world titles, but a victory in Paris had remained absent from her record. Her quick finish completed the opening day’s women’s medal programme, with athletes from Europe, Asia and the Americas contesting the category’s podium positions.

Japan’s Kirari Yamaguchi took bronze against Friederike Stolze through a hold completed close to the end of regulation time. Joanne Van Lieshout won the other bronze against top seed Iva Oberan, first throwing for a score and later securing the match through an armlock.