Marica Perisic Falls Short in Judo Women's -57 kg Repechage at Paris 2024

On July 29, 2024, the highly anticipated Women's -57 kg Repechage contest took place at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, showcasing the incredible talent and determination of female judokas. The match featured Serbian athlete Marica Perisic and Japan's Haruka Funakubo, both of whom brought their A-game, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.

Marica Perisic, ranked 9th in the world, entered the contest with a notable track record, having recently won 1st place at the Tbilisi Grand Slam in 2023. Weighing in at 56.8 kg, she was confident against her opponent. Funakubo, holding a higher world ranking at 6th, also weighed 56.8 kg and had a strong resume, including a 2nd place finish at the Tashkent World Championships in 2022.

The match commenced at 16:00 local time, under the watchful eye of Dominican Republic referee Orlando Cruz Cruz. Both athletes displayed impressive skills, but it was Funakubo who struck first, earning a penalty against Perisic just 39 seconds into the match. With the pressure mounting, the contest continued, leading to a pivotal moment at 3:12 when Funakubo executed a Yoko-shiho-gatame technique, scoring an IPP and securing a decisive victory over Perisic.

The contest concluded with a final score of 10-0 in favor of Funakubo, sending her onward in the competition while marking the end of Perisic's Olympic journey. Despite the loss, Perisic's performance in Paris has solidified her reputation as a formidable competitor on the judo stage. The Women's -57 kg Repechage contest was a testament to the spirit and skill of women in sports, and both athletes demonstrated exceptional prowess throughout the match.