-90kg: Tristani Mosakhlishvili Hit Hard in Astana

Before that, Ngayap Hambou completed a faultless run, eliminating Aram Grigorian (UAE) in the first round with a terrific tani-otoshi. Then it was the turn of Caramnob Sagaipov (LBN) and Khusen Khalmurzaev (AIN) to suffer the law of the French.

In the second part of the draw, it was expected that the Olympic Mixed Team champion, Axel Clerget (FRA) would join his compatriot in the final. After a slow start, Clerget found his rhythm and managed to impose his powerful grip, but in the semi-final he hit a brick wall, in the shape of Tristani Mosakhlishvili (ESP). The latter scored two waza-ari against Clerget, who was totally unable to produce anything.

The final between Ngayap Hambou (FRA) and Mosakhlishvili (ESP) was going to be electric. It looked quite balanced between the two competitors, who entered the final minute with only one shido apiece but as Maxime-Gael Ngayap Hambou launched a sumi-gaeshi, Tristani Mosakhlishvili anticipated perfectly to follow on the floor and pin his opponent for ippon. This was the first appearance of the Spaniard at this level and for a debut, it's a big hit!

The first match for a bronze medal saw Khusen Khalmurzaev (AIN) and Axel Clerget (FRA) battling it out for the prestige and the metal. After the athletes received two shido each, Clerget took a strong lead with a makikomi for waza-ari and was close to scoring again with a left handed ko-uchi-gari after a clever change of direction. Controlling the rest of the contest, especially on the floor, Clerget could celebrate a new medal on the circuit, the 8th medal for the Frenchman.

In the second match for a bronze medal Theodoros Tselidis (GRE) and Rafael Macedo (BRA) confronted each other to complete the podium. Macedo entered the golden score period with two shido to his name as Tselidis was keeping the pressure on his opponent. After 44 seconds of extra time, Tselidis eventually found an opportunity with a seoi-nage that Rafael Macedo tried to counter but wasn’t strong enough for. There was a waza-ari and the bronze medal for Theodoros Tselidis, his first medal at grand slam level.

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