SHENZHEN, China -- The Netherlands celebrated double gold medals in women's judo on Sunday at the 26th World University Games.
Esther Stam of the Netherlands won the 63kg event and compatriot Kim Polling claimed the 70kg gold at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center.
In a dramatic 63kg final, Stam and Miki Tanaka of Japn both had scored a yuko point with one minute to go when Tanaka was disqualified for a forbidden grabbing move.
The 24-year-old Stam extended a strong season with this win, her first title at a major international event. Tanaka had to settle for silver one more time, just as she did at the world championships in 2010 and at the 2009 Universiade.
Stam fended off a challenge from Hwang Chun Gum of DPR Korea in the quarterfinal before beating China's Lin Meiling in the semifinal. Tanaka easily cruised into the final by beating all opponents with ippon ahead of time.
Lin Meiling was the favorite in the bronze medal match, but needed the overtime to beat Agata Ozdoba of Poland. A very aggressive Hwang prevailed over Martyna Trajdos to capture the other bronze medal.
In the women's 70kg final, Polling overcame strong resistance from Laura Vargas Koch of Germany to strike gold. Both scored a waza-ari in the match, but the 20-year-old Polling then earned two yuko points at the end to take the title.
On her way to the final, Polling overcame 2009 Universiade bronze medallist and favourite Hwang Ye Sul of South Korea as well as Japanese Yuko Imai, scoring ippon in each bout.
Vargas Koch of Germany was quick to dispose of her opponents in the quarter and semifinals, using her physical strength.
Imai then beat Chen Rong of China for the bronze medal. Brazil's Natalia Bordignon earned a second bronze medal for Brazil on Sunday when she defeated Marija Cosic of Croatia in the other bronze medal bout.
