The -73 kg final was no exception to the rule of the day, as Ryuga Tanaka, bronze medallist at the beginning of the season in Portugal, and Tatsuki Ishihara, finalist of the last world championships, both Japanese, qualified for the final.
Final, Ryuga Tanaka (JPN) vs Tatsuki Ishihara (JPN)
It was an intense final but neither judoka being able to throw, the final decision was based on penalties and it was Tanaka who harvested the victory after Tatsuki received a third shido. The gold medal goes to Ryuga Tanaka.
Danil Lavrentev (IJF) and Abubakr Sherov (TJK) who beat Soichi Hashimoto in the quarter-finals, faced each other for the first bronze medal. Sherov could not reproduce the performance of his teammate Obid Dzhebov and had to bow out to Danil Lavrentev, who took the bronze medal.
Soichi Hashimoto (JPN) and Shusuke Uchimura (JPN) had one more chance to get on the podium. With a beautiful tomoe-nage, Uchimura took the victory over Hashimoto to take the bronze medal.
Medals, cheques and flowers were presented by Mr Mohammed Meridja, IJF Education and Coaching Director, and Mr Akinobu Osako, JUA Head Referee Director and Chairman of AJJF Refereeing Committee
Final (-73 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-73 kg)
Final Results (-73 kg)
1. TANAKA Ryuga
(JPN)
3. LAVRENTEV Danil
(IJF)
3. UCHIMURA Shusuke
(JPN)
5. SHEROV Abubakr
(TJK)
5. HASHIMOTO Soichi
(JPN)
7. YONEZUKA Jack
(USA)
7. GALSTIAN Karen
(IJF)