This event was the second-lightest of the women's judo weight classes, limiting competitors to a maximum of 52 kilograms of body mass.

If the bout was still tied at the end, it was extended for another five-minute, sudden-death period; if neither judoka scored during that period, the match was decided by the judges.

The tournament bracket consisted of a single-elimination contest culminating in a gold medal match.

The two judokas who lost in the semifinals faced the winner of the opposite half of the bracket's repechage in bronze medal bouts.

All times are Greece Standard Time (UTC+2) Those judoka eliminated in earlier rounds by the four semifinalists of the main bracket advanced to the repechage.