Lieber started by defeating American Maria Holguin (IJF-37), but was stopped in the quarterfinals by South Korean Mimi Hoh (IJF-6). In the return matches, she again defeated Azerbaijani Fidan Alizadeh (IJF-74), earning her a medal match.
This was only Lieber’s second competition after knee ligament surgery. She was eliminated in the first round at the European Championship last week. “I’m very happy with the way things went here. I barely had time to accommodate the flight and the hour difference, and yet I completed a fantastic course,” said Leeper. Disqualification is not the way you want to win, but I’m mainly thinking about the outcome. It gives me big points for the Olympics in Paris. I’m happy to be able to fight again, but I feel like I’m missing the competitive rhythm. The knee is holding up well, although I still have to be careful. “There still need to be some adjustments, but I’m on the right track.”
Other Belgians fared less well. In the 48th minute, Elaine Salins (IJF-42) immediately came off against Brazilian Alexia Nascimento (IJF-69). Amber Ryhol broke free in the first round under the mark of 52 and defeated Taiwanese Lin Hsu-Wan Chu (IJF-138) in the second, and then lost in the quarter-finals to Azerbaijani Gultaj Mamadaleva (IJF-14). In the return matches, the German Annika Wuerfel (IJF43) will play.
Watch what you want, where and when you want.
