Maria Rusu demonstrates excellent form on the tatami // Photo: olympic.md .
The judoka was represented in the weight category up to 57 kg. In the small final she defeated Zuhra Alimova from Uzbekistan.
Path to the podium
The 16-year-old Rusu started her performance at the tournament with a victory over Nino Khabazi from Georgia. In the next rounds she defeated Ezgi Topcu (Turkey) and Emily Garrido (Brazil). The Moldovan judoka did not manage to compete for the gold medal because of her defeat in the fight with the future winner Inzhu Zhumazhan from Kazakhstan. Her compatriot Yerkenaz Sembek took the second place, and the second bronze medal was won by Topcu.
In TOP-50 ofthe world ranking
Maria Rusu in the world ranking of the International Judo Federation is represented in two weight categories – up to 63 kg (34th place) and up to 57 kg (38th).
For the young athlete this medal was the second in her career – last year she became the second at the European Cup stage in Thessaloniki (Greece).
