Number one seed, Michael Korrel (NED), double world medallist and twice winner of the World Judo Masters, held his rank until he met a certain Jorge Fonseca (POR), double world champion. This is where everything changed for Korrel. Defeated by Fonseca, he then lost in the repechage, finishing 7th.
Arman Adamian (AIN), reigning world champion, also came across a wall called Fonseca, who before half-time in the semi-final, planted a fashionable o-soto-gari in pure Fonseca style. Ippon!
In the family of fratricidal battles between athletes from the same nation, there is one between Shady Elnahas and Kyle Reyes (CAN). The latter, unfortunately for him, fell from the beginning against the reigning Olympic champion Aaron Wolf (JPN), who had come to Türkiye to find his feet, but Wolf too had to disappear later, in response to the clean and persistent judo of a Leonardo Goncalves (BRA), a man on fire. Reyes out, Elnahas had a great card to play, a card that he played wonderfully by beating Louis Mai (GER), Toma Nikivorov (BEL) and Aleksandar Kukolj (SRB), in a style that was both risky and terribly effective.
The semi-final between Elnahas and Goncalves therefore promised to be explosive and it was, with Elnahas producing one of the most aerial movements of the competition. With Goncalves on his back, the Canadian could head towards the final where he found Fonseca.
However, the final never took place. A few months ago Elnahas suffered a rib injury which disabled him for a while. “The result is there, the points are there and the manner is there. During the elimination phases, a slight pain arose in the rib and Shady did not want to take any unnecessary risks just two months before the Olympic Games,” explained coach Antoine Valois-Fortier. This final would have concluded a day which was simply extraordinary for both fighters. Instead it was a direct gold medal for Fonseca and silver for Elnahas. We will undoubtedly find them this summer in Paris. What is sure is that Fonseca is coming back on top at the right moment and today he showed that we will have to count on him in the French capital.
There were still two bronze medals to be awarded. The first contest took place between Gonchigsuren Batkhuyag (MGL) and Leonardo Goncalves (BRA). The contest looked uncertain for almost 4 minutes until Batkhuyag through for ippon with only 3 seconds left on the clock. The bronze medal was for Gonchigsuren Batkhuyag and Mongolia.
Aaron Wolf (JPN) and Arman Adamian (AIN) were listed to take to the tatami for the second bronze medal. Adamian was unable to compete though and so the bronze medal went to Wolf, not the medal he was hoping for, but still this is a podium finish.
Final (-100 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-100 kg)
