-66kg: Abe’s Fantastic Four

The Japanese giants, metaphorically speaking, of Hifumi Abe and Joshiro Maruyama, have split the last 5 world titles in the category between them, 3 for the former and 2 for the latter. They have also competed against one another in two of those events, most recently in Tashkent last year, where Abe reigned supreme. In Doha, the world crown remained theirs to reclaim, though there were many strong challengers who gave their all trying to stop them.

Hifumi Abe’s route to the final was littered with decorated players. Up first was Matteo Piras (ITA) in round 2, recent Tbilisi and Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist, but unfortunately he was no match for the Olympic champion. Abe threw with his two-sleeve o-soto-gari and sode-tsurikomi-goshi in rapid succession to send the Italian to the changing rooms early.

Next up, in round 3 was recent Tel Aviv bronze medallist Gaitero Martin (ESP), who resisted more than any of Abe’s opponents on the day. The Spaniard defended magnificently in the first 3 minutes, nullifying Abe’s strong hand, killing his powerful attacks and then launching his own attacks in ne-waza. Neither could convert however, until, with 20 seconds remaining, Abe fired in with his sode-tsurikomi-goshi once more and threw Gaitero Martin at the second attempt, landing to the wrong side but it was enough to score waza-ari and book his place in the quarter-final.

In that quarter-final, the ABHA Arena was treated to a repeat of the Tokyo Olympic final, as Vazha Margvelashvili (GEO) lay in wait. That last final was endured for the full four minutes but this time Abe seemed in a hurry and dispatched the Georgian in half the time. Attacking with two sleeves and off-the-grip once more, Abe powered through Margvelashvili’s defence to throw first with that trusty sode and then with ko-uchi-gari to score two waza-aris and send the Georgian to the repechage.

The final hurdle for Abe en route to the final came in the form of French powerhouse and former European champion Walide Khyar, who had just picked up Budapest 2021 world champion at -60kg Abuladze in his quarter-final with his highlight-reel sukui-nage. However, there was no slowing down for Abe, quite the opposite; another enormous sode, scoring a thunderous ippon to book his place in yet another world final.

Maruyama’s journey to the final was almost, but not quite, as smooth. He often preferred to ditch his favoured uchi-mata and tomoe-nage for other throws, showing a new side to his judo but he couldn’t help himself in his first contest against Poliak (SVK), throwing beautifully with the former for waza-ari and then cleanly with the latter for ippon. In round 3 against Hernandez (COL), he let his footwork do the talking, twice scoring waza-ari with lightning fast ko-soto-garis.

An Baul (KOR), the only person other than Abe to have beaten Maruyama in international competition since 2013, was waiting in the quarter-final. The Korean put Maruyama under serious pressure, threatening with his dropping attacks and spending quite some time attacking in ne-waza. In the final minute, something awakened in the Japanese judoka, turning the tables on An with several strong attacks until finally, he cross-gripped over his opponent’s back and hurled him over with sumi-gaeshi for ippon. Maruyama edged closer.

If that fight wasn’t enough, in the semi-final he faced off against Mongolia’s Bashkuu Yondonperenlei, against whom Maruyama has struggled in the past. It was in this contest that chinks in Maruyama’s armour started to show, with his opponent gaining inside position in the left vs right battle each time, giving him no chance to create his attacks. Maruyama looked sluggish and unstable and it seemed like only a matter of time before he was thrown but Yondonperenlei went too hard too fast, tiring more quickly and allowing his adversary back into the contest. A weak sumi-gaeshi attempt gave Maruyama the chance he needed and he bowled the Mongolian over with sumi-otoshi in golden score to take the win. Maruyama survived by the skin of this teeth and judo fans across the world gave a sigh of relief for the final match-up they were hoping for.

The final was the Japanese pair’s 11th meeting in national or international competition, a saga that has delivered so many epic contests over the years and today was no exception. Each fighter gave everything once more in a 10-minute war, both searching for an opening for their tokui-waza. Neither could find it though and the contest was ended by a third penalty for Maruyama, who was outgunned by his rival in the final moments. Not to be outdone by his younger sister Uta, Hifumi joined her in claiming his own fourth world title, only the 5th man in history to do so.

In the first of the bronze medal contests, Margvelashvili and Yondonperenlei produced yet another explosive fight, their close-quarters style creating multiple attacking opportunities. Both players looked exhausted as the fight entered golden score but Margvelashvili was the first to crack, falling slowly onto his back for sumi-gaeshi, which Yondonperelei capitalised on to hold him in yoko-shiho-gatame to take his second world bronze medal. 

The second bronze was Khyar’s; a waza-ari from a hugging ko-soto-gake was enough for him to overcome An of Korea and earn what was his first world championship medal.

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