Kayla Harrison to Fight in Semifinals at the World Championships in Tokyo

(Tokyo, Japan) – Twenty-year-old Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE) advanced to the semifinals of the 78kg division today at the Senior World Championships.

Harrison will fight 2009 World silver medalist Maryna Pryshchepa (UKR) in the semifinals at 5 p.m. local time (4 a.m. Eastern). 

If Harrison wins the semifinals, she will fight for gold at 7:30 p.m. local time.  A gold medal win would make Harrison the fourth U.S. player ever to win a World title and the first to win since her coach Jimmy Pedro (Methuen, Mass.) won in 1999. 

Harrison won three matches to advance to the semifinals.  After defeating two-time World Cup medalist Luise Malzahn (GER) by three yuko scores (quarter point each), she threw Ana Velensek (SLO) for a quick ippon (instant win) in the first minute of their second-round match.

In the quarter-finals, Harrison fought a tactical match against four-time World and 2000 Olympic medalist Celine Lebrun (FRA) who she defeated by two penalties to one. 

Tags: Kayla Harrison