Kalanina Takes Grand Slam In Baku

Showcasing raw power and skill, Ukrainian judoka, Yelyzaveta Kalanina would walk out of Baku with her first Grand Slam title last weekend.

Kalanina would walk through Bosnian challenger Larisa Ceric, who was denied a second grand slam title by the talented Ukraine product, who would take her first title in her first finals appearance.

Kalanina’s path to the gold went through Olympic bronze medalist Anamari Velensek of Slovenia, who fell to a single waza-ari in the women’s heavyweight sem-final.

The bronze medal would go to Velensek and Azerbaijani competitor Iryna Kindzerska, who would lose in the semis to Ceric via a waza-ari.