Extra-Lightweight (≤48 kilograms), Women

Heavy favorite in the 48 kg class was the 2012 gold medal winner, Sarah Menezes from Brazil, particularly being in front of her home crowd. However, in the final contest of Pool B, she was defeated by Cuba’s 2015 Pan American Games gold medalist Dayaris Mestre by Shido (penalty). Later in the repêchage she lost again, this time to Mongolian Mönkhbatyn Urantsetseg, who applied an irresistible armbar, resulting in an Ippon (full point). In her next fight, for the bronze medal Urantsetseg had to surrender to Japan’s second-seeded Ami Kondo. In the other bronze medal bout Otgontsetseg Galbadrakhyn from Kazakhstan toppled Mestre with a back-throw.

The two finalists were third-ranked Paula Pareto, the 2008 bronze medalist from Argentina, and Korea’s Jeong Bok-Yeong, bronze medalist at the 2015 World Championships. Jeong sailed through to the final winning every encounter by an Ippon, while Pareto had to go the full distance in most fights winning by Waza-ari (half point). In the final, she also scored a Waza-ari with a Kouchi-gari (small inner reap) after less than two minutes. Although she received two penalties in the last minute, this was enough for medical doctor Pareto to win the first Olympic gold medal for Argentina in any sport by a woman.