Despite them not being exactly the same judoka as the previous category, a few name changes put the same results and flags into the final block. It was the two Japanese athletes, Takeshi Takeoka, finalist of the last world championships, and Taikoh Fujisaka, holder of a single medal at grand slam level, who obtained their tickets for the final at the expense of all their opponents of the day.
In the final, Takeshi Takeoka and Taikoh Fujisaka were both penalised twice before Takeshi Takeoka scored ippon with a powerful ko-soto-gari to win the gold medal.
Hinata Ono (JPN) faced Obid Dzehbov (TJK) for the bronze medal. If Dzehbov was countered by Ono, he didn't lose his concentration and followed immediately on the ground with an unstoppable juji-gatame for ippon. It was a well deserved bonze medal for Obid Dzehbov.
In the second match for a bronze medal, the current world champion, Ryoma Tanaka (JPN), who came for the gold medal, had to settle for a bronze against Baskhuu Yondonperenlei (MGL). The solid Mongolian judoka was thrown for waza-ari with o-uchi-gari and a change in direction, before being pinned for ippon.
Medals, cheques and flowers were presented by Mr Obaid Al-Anzi, IJF Vice President and President of the Judo Union of Asia, and Mr Takahiro Nishida, AJJF Vice President
Final (-66 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-66 kg)
Final Results (-66 kg)
1. TAKEOKA Takeshi
(JPN)
2. FUJISAKA Taikoh
(JPN)
3. DZHEBOV Obid
(TJK)
3. TANAKA Ryoma
(JPN)
5. ONO Hinata
(JPN)
7. ABULADZE Iago
(IJF)
7. LIMA Ronald
(BRA)