Facing him for the first of two bronze medals was Nicolas Kunze (GER) but Kentoku didn’t give him much space to express himself, throwing with o-uchi-gari well inside the first minute, placing a yuko on the scoreboard. 22-year-old Kunze won silver at the Warsaw European Open just two weeks ago but has no reference at this level and so his arrival in the final block is also a sign of great progress but he would go no further forward in Linz as it was Kentoku who claimed the medal. He collected scores, a waza-ari and 2 yukos to be precise, and never looked in danger.
The second bronze medal of the -66 kg category saw Guy Gutman (ISR) and Temur Nozadze (GEO) step on to the tatami. The former has no reference on the World Judo Tour, despite a couple of European Open medals, whereas Nozadze has won the Tbilisi Grand Slam twice and should be able to apply his experience to secure the medal in Upper Austria. However, although offering a typically physical style, there was a lack of sharpness which Gutman could feel and he used the space to build his own attacks. Gutman really took the upper hand when Nozadze attacked with a seoi-otoshi that didn't move his Israeli opponent enough; Gutman countered immediately and registered a waza-ari, one which was not responded to well enough. This is Gutman’s first medal on the World Judo Tour after a great performance throughout the day.
Current junior world champion Shuntaro Fukuchi (JPN) arrived in the arena to fight for gold with Ronald Lima (BRA) facing him. The young Brazilian has placings at recent grand slams but never a medal and so he was already in a great position, knowing he would leave Austria with his first World Judo Tour medal. Fukuchi, two years younger, also has no reference on the WJT but he could not be expected to at such a young age. With Luukas Saha and Elios Manzi in the group but getting nowhere near the medals, the young ones are laying their claim to this Olympic cycle.
Early in the contest, Fukuchi almost finished things on the ground, holding Lima with a ushiro-yoko-shiho-gatame but the Brazilian managed to escape just before e yuko appeared on the board. Eventually the table would be turned as with just 30 seconds remaining, Lima applied the same hold against Fukuchi. His technique was tighter and he notched up a waza-ari before the Japanese judoka could escape. These 30 seconds were tense but Lima had done enough. Both fighters have their first World Judo Tour medal but Lima’s is gold.
Final (-66 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-66 kg)
