By Zhifan Liu
PARIS (Reuters) -Japan's Takanori Nagase retained the Olympic under 81kg judo title he won in Tokyo three years ago before Andreja Leski triumphed in the women's under 63kg final to hand Slovenia its first gold medal of the Paris Games on Tuesday.
Nagase, a bronze medallist in Rio eight years ago, was already a point up when he secured a victory by ippon over Georgia's three-times world champion Tato Grigalashvili after two minutes, 48 seconds of the contest.
In front of a crowd mainly composed of locals hoping for a first judo gold for France, Nagase at first showed little emotion before finally waving to the audience when the speaker announced that he was now a double Olympic champion.
Before Paris, Nagase's form was uncertain as the 2015 world champion competed just eight times between his two Olympic titles, only winning the Antalya Grand Slam in March.
"The first time, the second time, both were tough, I can't say which one was easier or harder but after Tokyo I went through difficult times, I could not win much," Nagase said.
"This struggle lasted more than before Tokyo but I managed to win gold here in Paris and this is an achievement", added Nagase, who did not confirm whether he will aim for a third gold at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Leski had already disappointed another packed house at Champ-de-Mars Arena by beating French reigning champion Clarisse Agbegnenou 1-0 in the semi-finals of the women's competition.
The European champion went on to take out Mexican Prisca Awiti Alcaraz by ippon to clinch her country's second Olympic judo gold following Urska Zolnir in the same class in London in 2012.
"I said to myself, 'I have five fights left', I just go all in and enjoy," Leski said. "I will explode from joy. It's historic for Slovenia."
During a press conference, Agbegnenou asked Leski about her participation at the Los Angeles Games in four years. The Slovenian replied that she was not sure about it.
"When you will be sure? You will have to tell me so we can have a revenge", said the Frenchwoman with a smile.
Just 15 seconds before the gong in the semi-final, the Slovenian had swiped her opponent's feet from under her and forced Agbegnenou on her shoulder.
Officials used video refereeing to confirm the decision of a waza-ari, stunning a crowd that has yet to celebrate a home judo gold at the Paris Games after four days of competition.
A "devastated" Agbegnenou, who had beaten Leski twice in world championship finals, managed to recover in time to claim bronze, winning by ippon against Austria's Lubjana Piovesana.
After her win, she made a heart sign with her fingers to the crowd, who gave her a lengthy standing ovation.
The six-times world champion shared a moment in front of the stands with her two-year-old child, Athena, and being comforted by her teammates as well as France's Sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera.
"That’s incredible to come back like this after a pregnancy. A little girl that I’m still breastfeeding - that’s crazy," Agbegnenou said. "I can be proud of me. I’ll put the medal around my daughter’s neck".
Alcaraz, who was born in Britain but has competed for Mexico since 2017, took silver, Mexico’s first ever Olympic medal in judo.
Kosovo's Laura Fazliu won the other bronze, while South Korean Lee Joon-hwan and Somon Makhmadbekov of Tajikistan won bronzes in the men's competition. It was Tajikistan’s first medal of the Paris Olympics.
(Reporting by Liu Zhifan, editing by Clare Fallon and Bill Berkrot)
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