+78 kg: China Performs With Gold and Silver / IJF.org

We've been saying it since the beginning of the tournament: something is happening in China, something very positive. To be convinced, just take a look at the +78 kg final, Chundi Jia (CHN) versus Ye Liang (CHN). It was a 100% Chinese final. Is this already the visible effect of the presence of Stéphane Traineau, the former French world champion who until last year was in charge of Kazakhstan and has now moved a little further east to supervise the Chinese squad?

Final, Chundi Jia (CHN) vs Ye Liang (CHN)

What is certain is that this Dushanbe Grand Slam is a very good edition for China and that it bodes well for a bright future for Chinese judoka.

In the final, Chundi Jia applied a classic attack in the heavyweight style, a makikomi attempt, followed on the floor with an immobilisation for ippon. The gold and silver medals go to China.

Bronze medal contest, Tina Radic (CRO) vs Nominzul Dambadarjaa (MGL)

The first bronze medal contest pitted Tina Radic (CRO) against Nominzul Dambadarjaa (MGL). Radic thought she had done the most difficult part after scoring a yuko but in judo it's never over until the final gong. Actually the judoka did not have to wait for that as Nominzul Dambadarjaa launched a perfectly timed seoi-otoshi for ippon and the bronze medal was heading to Mongolia.

Bronze medal contest, Alfiia Dashkina (IJF) vs Iriskhon Kurbanbaeva (UZB)

Alfiia Dashkina (IJF) and Iriskhon Kurbanbaeva (UZB) qualified for the second bronze medal contest. Dashkina took the medal after she applied a shime-waza for ippon after a missed attack from Kurbanbaeva.

Medals, cheques and flowers were presented by Mr Ergash Makhmadbekov, Tajikistan Judo Federation Vice President, and Ms Yury Alvear, IJF Sport Commission member, PJC Education and Coaching Director and three-time world champion.

Final (+78 kg)

JIA Chundi (CHN) vs LIANG Ye (CHN)

Bronze Medal Fights (+78 kg)

RADIC Tina (CRO) vs DAMBADARJAA Nominzul (MGL)

DASHKINA Alfiia (IJF) vs KURBANBAEVA Iriskhon (UZB)

Final Results (+78 kg)

1. JIA Chundi (CHN)

2. LIANG Ye (CHN)

3. DAMBADARJAA Nominzul (MGL)

3. DASHKINA Alfiia (IJF)

5. RADIC Tina (CRO)

5. KURBANBAEVA Iriskhon (UZB)