Aleksandra Samardzic Triumphs in Women's -70 kg Judo Elimination Round at Paris 2024

On July 31, 2024, the Women's -70 kg Elimination Round of 32 saw an electrifying match at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. Competing on Mat 1, Aleksandra Samardzic of Bosnia & Herzegovina faced Laerke Olsen from Denmark in a showdown that had the audience on the edge of their seats.

The match started promptly at 10:12 AM local time and was officiated by Italy's renowned referee, Roberta Chyurlia. Samardzic, who weighed in at 69.7 kg, entered the competition ranked 34th in the world, while her opponent Olsen, at 69.5 kg, held the 36th position.

The contest was marked by a strategic exchange of techniques, with both judokas demonstrating their skills. Samardzic showcased her prowess by executing a Sumi-otoshi technique, earning her an IPP at 4 minutes and 15 seconds into the match. This decisive move not only secured her victory but also advanced her to the next round of the competition.

Samardzic's performance was particularly impressive considering her previous best result was a 5th place finish at the Masters in St. Petersburg back in 2017. On the other hand, Olsen, who had previously claimed a silver medal at the World Championships Juniors in 2018, faced setbacks during the match, receiving penalties that impacted her scoring.

The final score reflected Samardzic's dominance in the match, with her securing 10 points compared to Olsen's 0. This victory propels Samardzic further in the tournament, continuing her journey toward Olympic glory.

As the competition progresses, fans eagerly anticipate how Samardzic will perform in the upcoming rounds, hoping she can carry this momentum forward in the Paris 2024 Olympics.