Kelly Edwards picks up win over Amandine Buchard
Kelly Edwards enjoyed a victory over the world no.11 as she returned to the European Judo Championships after a two-year absence.
Edwards took on France’s Amandine Buchard in the first round in Poland and it was the Telford judoka’s superior attacking that made the difference.
There were no scores on the board as the contest went into golden score and Buchard picked up another shido for passivity to give Edwards the win.
The 26-year-old next took on Russia’s Alesya Kuznetsova and it was another close, tactical affair as it the contest went in to golden score.
Edwards, who missed the Rio Olympics after suffering a number of concussions, was again looking to force a score or shido but was caught on the ground and forced to tap out as Kuznetsova applied the armlock.
There were no medals on day one for the British team, however Bekky Livesey impressed to finish seventh on her debut.