Powell Bags Silver In Brazil To Add To Britain’s Medal Joy

Natalie Powell added to Britain’s medal haul at the Brasilia Grand Slam in Brazil by bagging silver.

The Beulah judoka claimed some notable scalps in the -78kg category

Powell defeated the Pan American Championship bronze medallist Lucia Cantero of Argentina and Brazil’s former Pan American Champion Samanta Soares to win her pool and progress to the semi-finals.

There Powell faced world No 7 Anna Maria Wagner and comfortably beat Germany’s former Junior and U23 European Champion.

In the final, Powell faced Cuba’s former World Championship bronze medallist, Kaliema Antomarchi.

With the score level at the end of the allocated four minutes, the match entered Golden Score.

Powell tried to capitalise upon a visibly tiring Antomarchi but was unfortunately thrown by her opponent for Waza-ari.

The 28-year-old silver added to the gold by Nekoda Smythe-Davis and bronze medals from Amy Livesey and Gemma Howell.

The medal haul over the three days earned Britain valuable Olympic qualification points ahead of Tokyo 2020.