Two Americans got wins on Saturday but it was Hannah Martin advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in a grand prix event this year that had the highest finish of the three Americans competing. Martin took care of Kazakhstan’s Azhar Salykova via ippon in her opener to reach the round of 16 for the first time in four 2016 grand prix events. A tough matchup with Canada’s Stefanie Tremblay for a quarterfinal spot ended up being decided by Martin having more shido penalties. three to one. Competing in the same women’s -63kg division as Martin, Leilani Akiyama lost to three yukos from Brazil’s Ketleyn Quadros.

Over on the men’s side Nicholas Delpopolo opened with the narrowest of wins over Portugal’s Nuno Saraiva. The only thing on the scorecard at the end of the match was a single shido penalty for Saraiva, sending the American through. His next match was decided by shidos as well but this time Delpopolo was on the wrong end 2-1 to Egypt’s Mohamed Mohyeldin.

The final day of competition on Sunday will feature four more Americans. Colton Brown is in the men’s -90kg division while two American men, Mark Fletcher and Ajax Tadehara, compete in the -100kg division. On the women’s side Nina Cutro-Kelly takes part in the +78kg division. Tadehara has a round of 16 appearance earlier this year and Cutro-Kelly was seventh in the first grand prix event of 2016.

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