Patricia Sampaio Triumphs Over Ma Zhenzhao in Women's -78 kg Quarterfinal at the Paris 2024 Olympics

The Women's -78 kg Quarterfinal event at the Paris 2024 Olympics took place on August 1, 2024, at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, where two fierce competitors went head-to-head: Patricia Sampaio from Portugal and Ma Zhenzhao from China. This match was part of the highly anticipated judo discipline, showcasing the athletes' skills in a high-stakes battle for a spot in the semifinals.

The match began at 11:30 AM local time and lasted for a total of 49 seconds. The referee for this contest was Akiko Amano from Japan, ensuring that the rules and regulations of judo were upheld throughout the match.

In this quarterfinal bout, Sampaio, fighting in the blue gi, faced off against Ma in the white gi. Sampaio's impressive technique and strategy paid off when she executed an Okuri-eri-jime, securing an Ippon victory over Ma. This decisive move earned Sampaio 10 points, while Ma was unable to score any points in the match.

Patricia Sampaio, who ranked 13th in the world, had previously achieved a commendable 5th place at the 2019 World Championships. In contrast, Ma Zhenzhao entered the match with a world ranking of 5 and had recently secured a silver medal at the Tashkent World Championships in 2022.

As the match came to a close, Sampaio’s skill and determination shone through, earning her a place in the semifinals of the competition. The atmosphere in the arena was electric, with fans cheering for both athletes as they showcased their incredible talents on the global stage.

This quarterfinal match not only highlighted the skills of two outstanding judo athletes but also set the stage for an exciting semifinals round as Sampaio continues her journey towards Olympic glory.