In the second part of the draw, much was expected of recent world champion Inal Tasoev (AIN). With his world title, will he be able to keep control? Two waza-ari, from an uchi-mata concluded on the ground against Jaegu Youn (KOR) in the first round, set the tone. In the next round, Tasoev eliminated Adil Orazbayev (KAZ) and Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) in the semi-finals. The world champion had all the cards in hand to get on the top step of the podium again, although Kim disagreed.
At the end of this last day of competition in Ulaanbaatar and in the last final of the event, Inal Tasoev confirmed his recent world title as Inbar Lanir did in the women's -78kg. To win gold, Tasoev launched an uchi-mata that was blocked by Minjong Kim, but Tasoev changed direction and scored waza-ari with tani-otoshi before concluding with an armlock for ippon.
World Champion Inal Tasoev shows his class, tachi-waza straight into an armlock! 👏🏼#JudoUlaanbaatar #Judo #Ulaanbaatar #Mongolia #Sport #OlympicQualifiers #RoadToParis2024 #WJT #Olympics pic.twitter.com/4MVPPLHbKt
— Judo (@Judo) June 25, 2023
Tsetsentsengel Odkhuu (MGL) and Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) battled for the first bronze medal. For the happiness of the public, Tsetsentsengel Odkhuu won the bronze with a ko-soto-gari for ippon.
Either Adil Orazbayev (KAZ) or Losseni Kone (GER) could still complete the podium. The medal went eventually to Losseni Kone, his first at this level of competition.