By Gary Anderson

Russia Kuziutina Kazan 2013July 9 - Russian judoka Natalia Kuziutina ensured the crowd went home happy after the third day of competition at the Kazan 2013 Universiade by taking a hugely popular home win.


Competing in the women's -52kg category, Kuziutina raised the noise levels inside the Tatneft Arena on her way to victory over Cuba's Olympic silver medallist Yanet Bermoy Acosta, ensuring Russia finished the day with two medals.

Japan's Ai Shishime scored ippon against Frenchwoman Penelope Bonna to secure bronze while Germany's Romy Tarangul struck back for Europe by winning the other bronze medal.

Russias Natalia Kuziutina blue sent the crowd home happy by securung victory over Yanet Bermoy Acosta from Cuba in the final of the womens -52kg categoryRussia's Natalia Kuziutina (second left) sent the crowd home happy with victory in the -52kg category over Cuba's Yanet Bermoy Acosta, who had been the favourite

There were also gold medals for Brazil, Japan and South Korea.

In the men's -66kg final category it was an all Asian affair in the final as Japan's Takajo Tomofumi took on Cho Junhyun from South Korea.

The 22-year-old Tomofumi overcame Cho by virtue of conceding fewer penalties in what was a tight tactical affair.

The bronze medals went to the Ukraine's Artem Kharchenko and Russia's Yakub Shamilov, who secured ippon over his French opponent Vincent Vallee, much to the delight of the home supporters inside the Tatneft Arena.

kazan podium 66Tomofumi Takajo (second left) claimed gold in the men's -66kg category in the judo competition at Kazan 2013

South Korea's Wang Ki Chun claimed victory with an ippon move in the men's -73kg category.

The double world champion overcame France's Jonathan Allardon in another close encounter, gaining some revenge for his loss to Allardon's compatriot, Ugo Legrand at the 2012 London Olympics.

A superb te-otoshi just on the final gong handed victory to Japan's Yuki Nishiyama in the bronze medal match with Portugal's Andre Alves also claiming a bronze following victory over Italy's Andrea Regis.

Ketleyn Quadros winning Kazan 2013Brazil's Ketleyn Quadros, the Beijing 2008 Olympic medallist, beat the Ukraine's Shushana Hevondian to win in the -73kg category

South America also had reason to celebrate in the form of Brazil's Ketleyn Quadros as the Beijing 2008 bronze medallist defeated the Ukraine's Shushana Hevondian relatively comfortably in the women's -73kg final.

In the bronze medal contests Lien Chen-Ling from Chinese Tapei beat Poland's Agata Perenc, while in the other bronze match an injury to South Korea's Kim Minju meant Japan's Shoko Ono was awarded victory.

Photos: © IJF media by Nicolas Messner

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