FINAL RESULTS: WOMEN
-48kg: ENDO earns first Grand Slam title to remain in contention for Japan
Former World Judo Masters winner ENDO Hiromi (JPN) had a day to remember at -48kg as the two-time Asian Championships winner won all four of her contests. ENDO, 25, has world champion TONAKI Funa and Olympic bronze medallist KONDO Ami ahead of her in the Japanese pecking order which meant that today was a must-win. The first gold medal of the competition went to Japan when Olympic champion Paula PARETO (ARG) received her third shido in the closing seconds.
In the first semi-final PARETO defeated The Hague Grand Prix bronze medallist Katharina MENZ (GER) who received her third and final shido for passivity at the halfway mark. In the second semi-final ENDO held down European bronze medallist Monica UNGUREANU (ROU) for 20 seconds and ippon to advance to the gold medal contest.
The first bronze medal contest saw 2015 Junior World bronze medallist GANBAATAR Narantsetseg (MGL) win her first senior international medal at the expense of UNGUREANU. The 23-year-old Mongolian threw with a ko-soto-gake for a waza-ari which was the only time the scoreboard was troubled as Mongolia won the first medal of the Ekaterinburg Grand Slam 2018.
The second bronze medal contest opposed Warsaw European Open winner ERDENETSOGT Gerelmaa (MGL) and MENZ and it was the German judoka who prevailed. MENZ needed 29 seconds of golden score to produce a waza-ari with a uchi-mata to deny Mongolia a bronze double at -48kg.
Final
ENDO, Hiromi (JPN) vs PARETO, Paula (ARG)
Bronze Medal Fights
UNGUREANU, Monica (ROU) vs GANBAATAR, Narantsetseg (MGL)
ERDENETSOGT, Gerelmaa (MGL) vs MENZ, Katharina (GER)
Final Results
1. ENDO, Hiromi (JPN)
2. PARETO, Paula (ARG)
3. GANBAATAR, Narantsetseg (MGL)
3. MENZ, Katharina (GER)
5. UNGUREANU, Monica (ROU)
5. ERDENETSOGT, Gerelmaa (MGL)
7. JURA, Anne Sophie (BEL)
7. POP, Alexandra (ROU)
-52kg: KUZIUTINA wins at home in first Grand Slam triumph since 2009
World Judo Masters winner Natalia KUZIUTINA (RUS) loves fighting at home and was again the hero for Russia as she defeated four-time Grand Slam winner Erika MIRANDA (BRA) to win -52kg gold. The pair were equal at 2:2 in their head-to-series but there was only one judoka capable of winning in the final today as number two seed KUZIUTINA powered past top seed MIRANDA. A waza-ari gave the home judoka the lead before MIRANDA was trapped in a tate-shiho-gatame hold and KUZIUTINA was declared the winner by waza-ari-awasette-ippon.
In the first semi-final MIRANDA defeated teammate and Tunis Grand Prix winner Jessica PEREIRA (BRA) with a left-sided harai-goshi for ippon. In the second semi-final Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Alexandra-Larisa FLORIAN (ROU) fell to KUZIUTINA by ippon.
The first bronze medal contest opposed FLORIAN and Tokyo Grand Slam silver medallist TATSUKAWA Rina (JPN). The Japanese floored her Romanian rival with a tai-otoshi for ippon to ensure a successful first IJF event outside of Japan.
In the second bronze medal contest 2015 world bronze medallist Darya SKRYPNIK (BLR) was held down by the hard-working PEREIRA who trapped her opponent for 20 seconds with a sankaku-gatame for a place on the podium.
Final
KUZIUTINA, Natalia (RUS) vs MIRANDA, Erika (BRA)
Bronze Medal Fights
FLORIAN, Alexandra-Larisa (ROU) vs TATSUKAWA, Rina (JPN)
SKRYPNIK, Darya (BLR) vs PEREIRA, Jessica (BRA)
Final Results
1. KUZIUTINA, Natalia (RUS)
2. MIRANDA, Erika (BRA)
3. TATSUKAWA, Rina (JPN)
3. PEREIRA, Jessica (BRA)
5. FLORIAN, Alexandra-Larisa (ROU)
5. SKRYPNIK, Darya (BLR)
7. KUTSENKO, Aigul (RUS)
7. PERENC, Agata (POL)
-57kg:Fifth Grand Slam crown for Portuguese ace MONTEIRO
Olympic bronze medallist and three-time world silver medallist Telma MONTEIRO (POR) topped the -57kg medal podium with a typically mature and calculated performance. MONTEIRO threw Baku Grand Slam winner LIEN Chen-Ling (TPE) with a tomoe-nage for a waza-ari and then countered her rival on the edge of the area to win by waza-ari-awasette-ippon. The win was the first for 32-year-old MONTEIRO on the IJF World Judo Tour since 2015 and proved that she certainly has one more Olympic Games left in her.
In the first semi-final three-time Grand Prix winner TAMAOKI Momo (JPN) lost to MONTEIRO by a waza-ari score from a sumi-gaeshi. In the second semi-final LIEN pinned down Düsseldorf Grand Slam silver medallist KARAKAS Hedvig (HUN) in osaekomi for 20 seconds to progress to the final.
The first bronze medal was won by world champion DORJSUREN Sumiya (MGL) who dismissed KARAKAS by ippon. Mongolian star DORJSUREN threw with an ippon-seoi-nage in golden score to salvage a place on the podium.
The second bronze medal was won by world number 20 TAMAOKI after Loredana OHAI (ROU) was disqualified for receiving three shidos.
Final
LIEN, Chen-Ling (TPE) vs MONTEIRO, Telma (POR)
Bronze Medal Fights
KARAKAS, Hedvig (HUN) vs DORJSUREN, Sumiya (MGL)
OHAI, Loredana (ROU) vs TAMAOKI, Momo (JPN)
Final Results
1. MONTEIRO, Telma (POR)
2. LIEN, Chen-Ling (TPE)
3. DORJSUREN, Sumiya (MGL)
3. TAMAOKI, Momo (JPN)
5. KARAKAS, Hedvig (HUN)
5. OHAI, Loredana (ROU)
7. MEZHETSKAIA, Daria (RUS)
7. KONKINA, Anastasiia (RUS)
-63kg: NOUCHI Aimi wins again in Russia to end day one with top spot for Japan
Tunis Grand Prix silver medallist NOUCHI Aimi (JPN) won Russia’s Grand Slam for the second time as the unseeded Japanese was the fighter of the day at -63kg. NOUCHI, 22, who won the Tyumen Grand Slam in 2016, bested one-time Grand Slam winner Juul FRANSSEN (NED) in the last final of the day. After a stalemate in regulation time, golden score could not produce a score but did produce a winner when FRANSSEN was penalised for passivity to receive hansoku-make.
In the first semi-final Rome European Open winner Maelle DI CINTIO (FRA) was beaten by FRANSSEN (NED) by a waza-ari score to move down into a bronze medal contest. In the second semi-final NOUCHI edged past world bronze medallist Agata OZDOBA-BLACH (POL) by a waza-ari score.
In the first bronze medal contest OZDOBA-BLACH lost out to Rome European Open bronze medallist Edwige GWEND (ITA). The Italian was back on the Grand Slam podium with a narrow win over her Polish rival by a waza-ari score.
The second bronze medal contest saw DI CINTIO defeat European Games winner Martyna TRAJDOS (GER) by a waza-ari to secure her first Grand Slam medal and one which will pave the way for her to book her ticket to more Grand Slam events in 2018 in one of France’s strongest weight categories.
Final
NOUCHI, Aimi (JPN) vs FRANSSEN, Juul (NED)
Bronze Medal Fights
OZDOBA-BLACH, Agata (POL) vs GWEND, Edwige (ITA)
DI CINTIO, Maelle (FRA) vs TRAJDOS, Martyna (GER)
Final Results
1. NOUCHI, Aimi (JPN)
2. FRANSSEN, Juul (NED)
3. GWEND, Edwige (ITA)
3. DI CINTIO, Maelle (FRA)
5. OZDOBA-BLACH, Agata (POL)
5. TRAJDOS, Martyna (GER)
7. BADUROVA, Kamila (RUS)
7. DOBRE, Stefania Adelina (ROU)
FINAL RESULTS: MEN
-60kg: All smiles for Kazakhstan’s former world champion SMETOV
Former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Yeldos SMETOV (KAZ) won his first Grand Slam title with a lively performance in the -60kg category. Kazakh star SMETOV won all four of his contests without conceding a score as he was back to the form that saw him Olympic and world medals. In the final SMETOV defeated outsider Islam YASHUEV (RUS) by waza-ari-awasette-ippon with a morote-seoi-nage and then a yoko-sutemi-waza effort.
In the first semi-final former Tyumen Grand Slam winner OSHIMA Yuma (JPN) lost out to YASHUEV. The home judoka opened the scoring with a right-sided uchi-mata for a waza-ari and then threw with a ura-nage to win by waza-ari-awasette-ippon.
In the second semi-final SMETOV (KAZ) dominated KHYAR (FRA) by scoring twice without reply. The Kazakh star won by waza-ari-awasette-ippon with the pick of his two scores being his opening waza-ari from a right-sided low tai-otoshi.
The first bronze medal contest was won by Rio 2016 Olympic champion Beslan MUDRANOV (RUS) who bested former European champion KHYAR. After two minutes of additional time the Frenchman was penalised with his third shido for stepping out to gift MUDRANOV the fourth Grand Slam medal of his career.
The second bronze medal contest saw OSHIMA defeat Sofia European Open silver medallist Sakhavat GADZHIEV (RUS) after 16 seconds of golden score. A sumi-gaeshi brought the only score of the contest as the Japanese earned a place on the podium at his first IJF event since he missed the medal podium at the 2016 Tokyo Grand Slam.
Final
SMETOV, Yeldos (KAZ) vs YASHUEV, Islam (RUS)
Bronze Medal Fights
KHYAR, Walide (FRA) vs MUDRANOV, Beslan (RUS)
GADZHIEV, Sakhavat (RUS) vs OSHIMA, Yuma (JPN)
Final Results
1. SMETOV, Yeldos (KAZ)
2. YASHUEV, Islam (RUS)
3. MUDRANOV, Beslan (RUS)
3. OSHIMA, Yuma (JPN)
5. KHYAR, Walide (FRA)
5. GADZHIEV, Sakhavat (RUS)
7. BASSOU, Issam (MAR)
7. TAKABATAKE, Eric (BRA)
-66kg: World champion ABE extends unbeaten run with sixth Grand Slam victory
World champion ABE Hifumi (JPN) won the sixth Grand Slam medal of his staggering young career as the unstoppable Japanese judoka ruled the -66kg category in Ekaterinburg. ABE, who is still only 20, defeated The Hague Grand Prix silver medallist Yakub SHAMILOV (RUS) by a waza-ari score to extend his winning-streak to 32 consecutive contests. The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner is undefeated since 2015 which puts him only behind all-time great TEDDY Riner (FRA) who is unbeaten since 2010.
In the first semi-final ABE defeated Tashkent Grand Prix winner Dzmitry MINKOU (BLR) by ippon to continue his unstoppable run towards gold. In the second semi-final SHAMILOV bested teammate and world number nine Abdula ABDULZHALILOV (RUS) by ippon.
In the first bronze medal contest ABDULZHALILOV defeated world number 104 and Grand Slam debutant Isa ISAEV (RUS) with an incredible ashi-waza movement that had the crowd purring with approval.
The second bronze medal went to MINKOU after Agadir Grand Prix winner Adrian GOMBOC (SLO) was reprimanded with his third shido. Belarus judoka MINKOU matched his result from a year ago as GOMBOC will have to go again in search of his first Grand Slam medal.
Final
SHAMILOV, Yakub (RUS) vs ABE, Hifumi (JPN)
Bronze Medal Fights
ABDULZHALILOV, Abdula (RUS) vs ISAEV, Isa (RUS)
GOMBOC, Adrian (SLO) vs MINKOU, Dzmitry (BLR)
Final Results
1. ABE, Hifumi (JPN)
2. SHAMILOV, Yakub (RUS)
3. ABDULZHALILOV, Abdula (RUS)
3. MINKOU, Dzmitry (BLR)
5. ISAEV, Isa (RUS)
5. GOMBOC, Adrian (SLO)
7. CHIBANA, Charles (BRA)
7. YONDONPERENLEI, Baskhuu (MGL)
-73kg: First IJF World Judo Tour win for Mongolia’s -60kg Rio 2016 Olympian
Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist TSEND-OCHIR Tsogtbaatar (MGL) struck -73kg gold as the young Mongolian defeated Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Ferdinand KARAPETIAN (ARM). Two-time Junior world silver medallist TSEND-OCHIR, 22, had his breakthrough moment, his first IJF World Judo Tour win, with a battling display as Mongolia excelled on day one. Rio 2016 Olympian at two weight categories below, former -60kg hopeful TSEND-OCHIR won the first clash between him and KARAPETIAN in golden score by a waza-ari. Judoka often switch categories and especially at this period before Oympic qualification begins but it is unheard for an athlete to jump up two weight categories. On today’s evidence both judoka look set for a major impact on the -73kg stakes in the upcoming Olympic qualification phase which begins in May.
In the first semi-final TSEND-OCHIR strolled past The Hague Grand Prix silver medallist Victor SCVORTOV (UAE) by scoring twice with his seoi-nage which earned a waza-ari on both occasions. In the second semi-final KARAPETIAN threw Olympic champion Fabio BASILE (ITA) with an incredible uchi-mata in golden score for ippon.
The first bronze medal was won by BASILE who saw off Tunis Grand Prix winner Zhansay SMAGULOV (KAZ) to win his first medal since winning the -66kg Olympic title in 2016. BASILE, 23, won his first Grand Slam honour and also his first prize since moving up to -73kg by a waza-ari score from a de-ashi-barai.
The second and last male bronze medal contest saw Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Uali KURZHEV (RUS) fight his way onto the podium as he pressed SCVORTOV to the point where the U.A.E judoka was penalised for a third and final time.
Final
KARAPETIAN, Ferdinand (ARM) vs TSEND-OCHIR Tsogtbaatar (MGL)
Bronze Medal Fights
BASILE, Fabio (ITA) vs SMAGULOV, Zhansay (KAZ)
SCVORTOV, Victor (UAE) vs KURZHEV, Uali (RUS)
Final Results
1. TSEND-OCHIR Tsogtbaatar (MGL)
2. KARAPETIAN, Ferdinand (ARM)
3. BASILE, Fabio (ITA)
3. KURZHEV, Uali (RUS)
5. SMAGULOV, Zhansay (KAZ)
5. SCVORTOV, Victor (UAE)
7. RAICU, Alexandru (ROU)
7. NOGAMI, Rentaro (JPN)
PROGRAMME
Sunday 18 March
Preliminary rounds - 11:00
Final Block - 17:00