Japan's Tokyo Olympic judo gold medalist Uta Abe won the women's 52-kilogram division at the Zagreb Grand Prix on Friday as she returned to the international scene for the first time since last summer's games.
A day after turning 22, Abe won five bouts to secure the title with the Tokyo Olympic 48-kg winner Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo, the victim in the final. Abe won by ippon through two waza-ari scored by a big outer drop and ensuing mat hold.
Abe had surgeries on both her shoulders last fall and was away from the sport for half a year. She returned to domestic action in April but pulled out after winning one match for safety precautions.
Her compatriot Wakana Koga also won the tournament in the women's 48-kg class, while Genki Koga came in third in the men's 60-kg.
