A fierce gripping battle ensued and in some ways the best judo of each was cancelled out by the other. Eventually the gold medal was won on penalties in favour of the Uzbek judoka. They now have two and three Paris medals respectively, 3 for the Kosovan, but today’s gold is Ahadov’s.
Rashid Mammadaliyev (AZE) and Otari Kvantidze (POR) delivered a hugely entertaining contest with big attacks on both sides. Kvantidze opened the bidding with a seoi-otoshi for waza-ari but Mammadaliyev didn’t waste time to respond. He threw his Portuguese opponent for ippon in the next exchange and won his third grand slam medal.
Maxime Gobert (FRA) and Manuel Lombardo (ITA) offered some exciting judo while fighting for a Paris Grand Slam bronze medal. Gobert, who had thrown so emphatically during the morning block, continued with his positive attitude and just inside the second minute threw Lombardo with kata-guruma for waza-ari, not an easy thing to do against such an opponent.
Lombardo came very close to returning the favour with only 17 seconds to go and the audience had to hold their breath while the review took place. The Italian threw Gobert and there was definitely a score landing but in the end a yuko was awarded and the fight continued. The Frenchman had done enough; he won the bronze medal and jumped high in the air as he accepted his huge achievement.
Final (-73 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-73 kg)
