FINAL RESULTS: WOMEN -78kg: TAKAYAMA gives Japan a 100% success rate in Cancun Two-time Grand Slam winner TAKAYAMA Rika (JPN) defeated double Olympic bronze medallist Mayra AGUIAR (BRA) to win her second Grand Prix title. World number 18 TAKAYAMA, who won the 2016 Qingdao Grand Prix, is behind judoka such as world champion HAMADA Shori (JPN), former world champion UMEKI Mami (JPN) and Asian Games winner SATO Ruika (JPN) who is undefeated this year. AGUIAR has experienced a dip in form this year with no gold medal since her 2017 world title victory. The defending Cancun Grand Prix winner from Brazil had to settle for silver as she was penalised with a third shido for a false attack after four minutes and 28 seconds of golden score. The Japanese judoka was her country's only judoka in Cancun and left with gold.
In the first semi-final Hohhot Grand Prix bronze medallist Samanta SOARES (BRA) was pinned down by TAKAYAMA with a kuzure-kesa-gatame for 20 seconds, ippon and a place in the gold medal contest. In the second semi-final AGUIAR caught former world bronze medallist Kaliema ANTOMARCHI (CUB) with a silky piece of ashi-waza for ippon and a place in the final with 50 seconds left on the clock.
The first bronze medal contest was won by ANTOMARCHI who bested Tbilisi Grand Prix bronze medallist Beata PACUT (POL) with a buzzer-beating waza-ari score from a harai-makikomi. ANTOMARCHI could now break into the world’s top 10 with her second Grand Prix bronze medal while PACUT has now placed at four IJF events this year.
The second bronze medal was won by world number 27 SOARES who catapulted Pan American Championships silver medallist Karen LEON (VEN) through the air with a morote-seoi-nage with 27 seconds left on the clock for ippon. SOARES, who defeated top seed Natalie POWELL (GBR) in the quarter-final, dominated the contest as Brazil threatened to take over the final block with eight judoka in medal contests.
Final TAKAYAMA, Rika (JPN) vs AGUIAR, Mayra (BRA)
Bronze Medal Fights PACUT, Beata (POL) vs ANTOMARCHI, Kaliema (CUB) SOARES, Samanta (BRA) vs LEON, Karen (VEN)
Final Results
1. TAKAYAMA, Rika (JPN) 2. AGUIAR, Mayra (BRA) 3. ANTOMARCHI, Kaliema (CUB) 3. SOARES, Samanta (BRA) 5. PACUT, Beata (POL) 5. LEON, Karen (VEN) 7. POWELL, Natalie (GBR) 7. PAPADAKIS, Nefeli (USA)
+78kg: Cuban legend ORTIZ wins fifth Grand Prix title against long-standing Brazilian rival
World silver medallist Idalys ORTIZ (CUB) defeated double world silver medallist Maria Suelen ALTHEMAN (BRA) for the 14th time in her career to win her fifth Grand Prix gold medal. The Cuban legend, who has won all three colours of Olympic medals available, is already a leading contender for Tokyo 2020 and was unbeatable in Mexico today. ORTIZ beat ALTHEMAN in the World Championships semi-final last month and recorded one more win against the Brazilian in golden score. ALTHEMAN was penalised for passivity for the third time after 48 secinds of added time and remains winless against the standard bearer for the +78kg category.
In the first semi-final ALTHEMAN dropped to throw three-time Grand Slam bronze medallist Kseniia CHIBISOVA (RUS) for ippon to secure a place in the final as Brazil’s medal rush continued on day three. In the second semi-final ORTIZ defeated Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist Beatriz SOUZA (BRA) in a lacklustre contest as the Brazilian was penalised with her third shido for a false attack.
The first bronze medal was awarded to world number 10 SOUZA who beat world number 18 Sarah ADLINGTON (GBR). The British judoka was denied a fifth Grand Prix bronze medal after being penalised for passivity for a third time and was disqualified. Brazil meanwhile continued to go from strength to strength on the last day in Mexico.
The second bronze medal was won by CHIBISOVA who defeated Tashkent Grand Prix bronze medallist Anzhela GASPARIAN (RUS) with a harai-makikomi after 70 seconds. World number 25 CHIBISOVA solidified her place as Russia’s number one female heavyweight with a powerful display to win her fifth Grand Prix bronze medal.
Final ALTHEMAN, Maria Suelen (BRA) vs ORTIZ, Idalys (CUB)
Bronze Medal Fights ADLINGTON, Sarah (GBR) vs SOUZA, Beatriz (BRA) CHIBISOVA, Kseniia (RUS) vs GASPARIAN, Anzhela (RUS)
Final Results
1. ORTIZ, Idalys (CUB) 2. ALTHEMAN, Maria Suelen (BRA) 3. SOUZA, Beatriz (BRA) 3. CHIBISOVA, Kseniia (RUS) 5. ADLINGTON, Sarah (GBR) 5. GASPARIAN, Anzhela (RUS) 7. WILLIAMS, Mackenzie (USA) 7. CUTRO-KELLY, Nina (USA)
FINAL RESULTS: MEN
-90kg: Cuba’s SILVA MORALES shows his class to capture second Grand Prix title
World silver medallist Ivan Felipe SILVA MORALES (CUB) struck for Cuba as he beat former Tashkent Grand Prix winner Marc ODENTHAL (GER) in the -90kg final. SILVA MORALES was coming off the back of the best result of his career in Azerbaijan and was full of confidence as he topped the podium in Cancun. The former -81kg judoka countered the German who started with a uchi-mata and switched to a ko-soto but was off balance and the Cuban took full advantage for ippon in 56 seconds.
In the first semi-final ODENTHAL edged past Tunis Grand Prix bronze medallist David KLAMMERT (CZE) by a waza-ari score which was the only score in the four minute contest. In the second semi-final SILVA MORALES defeated Tbilisi Grand Prix gold medallist Rafael MACEDO (BRA) after two minutes of golden score with a uchi-mata for a waza-ari score.
The first bronze medal was won by MACEDO who threw world number 48 Frazer CHAMBERLAIN (GBR) with a morote-seoi-nage for ippon. In the second minute of the contest the Brazilian launched the Camberley Judo Club member for the maximum score. MACEDO is now a three-time Grand Prix medallist while CHAMBERLAIN offered his best performance thus far on the IJF World Judo Tour and earned invaluable points towards his Tokyo 2020 qualification bid.
The second bronze medal went to Buenos Aires Pan American Open winner Nacif ELIAS (LBN) who beat KLAMMERT. The Brazil-born ELIAS became Lebanon’s first male medallist on the IJF World Judo Tour with a narrow in over his Czech Republic rival by a waza-ari score from a modified kata-guruma. ELIAS, who won a Grand Slam silver medal when he previously represented Brazil, won his first IJF medal for Lebanon and will jump up the rankings from his lowly position of 42nd in the world.
Final ODENTHAL, Marc (GER) vs SILVA MORALES, Ivan Felipe (CUB)
Bronze Medal Fights CHAMBERLAIN, Frazer (GBR) vs MACEDO, Rafael (BRA) KLAMMERT, David (CZE) vs ELIAS, Nacif (LBN)
Final Results
1. SILVA MORALES, Ivan Felipe (CUB) 2. ODENTHAL, Marc (GER) 3. MACEDO, Rafael (BRA) 3. ELIAS, Nacif (LBN) 5. CHAMBERLAIN, Frazer (GBR) 5. KLAMMERT, David (CZE) 7. BURT, Zachary (CAN) 7. ZILKA, Peter (SVK)
-100kg: Russia’s BILALOV produces perfect outing for first Grand Prix gold medal
Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Niiaz BILALOV (RUS) won all four of his contests by ippon to win his first Grand Prix title. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner from Russia defeated Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist Laurin BOEHLER (AUT) after 44 seconds of golden score with a ko-uchi-gake which earned ippon. The Austrian walked onto the technique and immediately regretted his mistake while BILALOV solidified his place inside the world’s top 20 and could break into the top 16 in time to challenge at the season-ending World Judo Masters in December.
In the first semi-final former Junior European Championships gold medallist Aaron FARA (AUT) was humbled by teammate BOEHLER. The battle between Austria’s two big throwers went into added time and BOEHLER seized the initiative as he shook his opponent with an o-soto-gari attack and drove forwards to earn a waza-ari score after 22 seconds of golden score. In the second semi-final Olympic bronze medallist Cyrille MARET (FRA) fell to BILALOV by two waza-ari scores as the Russian secured a spot in the final and France’s leading man dropped down into the bronze medal contest.
The first bronze medal was won by former Paris Grand Slam silver medallist Rafael BUZACARINI (BRA) against MARET. Brazil’s BUZACARINI prevailed in golden score when Frenchman MARET was penalised with his third shido for passivity. BUZACARINI improved to eight Grand Prix medals and was clearly lifted by the medal exploits of his teammates on day three.
The second bronze medal went to FARA who rushed past Pan American Championships gold medallist Leonardo GONCALVES (BRA) in 31 seconds. The Tunis Grand Prix bronze medallist from Brazil had failed to do his homework on his Austrian rival who won by the maximum score from a front uchi-mata. World number 33 FARA opened his IJF World Judo Tour medal account in style while GONCALVES is still working to establish himself at the elite level and also has a bright future on the international circuit.
Final BOEHLER, Laurin (AUT) vs BILALOV, Niiaz (RUS)
Bronze Medal Fights BUZACARINI, Rafael (BRA) vs MARET, Cyrille (FRA) FARA, Aaron (AUT) vs GONCALVES, Leonardo (BRA)
Final Results
1. BILALOV, Niiaz (RUS) 2. BOEHLER, Laurin (AUT) 3. BUZACARINI, Rafael (BRA) 3. FARA, Aaron (AUT) 5. MARET, Cyrille (FRA) 5. GONCALVES, Leonardo (BRA) 7. DARWISH, Ramadan (EGY) 7. MINASKIN, Grigori (EST)
+100kg: Olympic champion KRPALEK bounces back from Worlds disappointment with Cancun gold
Olympic champion Lukas KRPALEK (CZE) won his third Grand Prix gold medal as he responded to his fifth-place finish at the World Championships with a clinical showing in Mexico. World number two KRPALEK defeated former -90kg judoka and Antalya Grand Prix bronze medallist Andy GRANDA (CUB) in the last contest of the Cancun Grand Prix. GRANDA finished fifth at Openweight World Championships last year which convinced him to move up to the heaviest weight category in the sport having campaigned in the -90kg division until 2014. GRANDA led by a waza-ari score but his Czech adversary pulled level with a waza-ari of his own to force golden score. After an additional 23 seconds, the former world champion caught the Cuban with a sumi-gaeshi for a match and gold medal-winning waza-ari score to end the competition with a thrilling men’s heavyweight final.
In the first semi-final KRPALEK threw European Championships silver medallist Tamerlan BASHAEV (RUS) with a sumi-gaeshi for ippon after 57 seconds of golden score in the same result as the European final. In the second semi-final former World Championships silver medallist David MOURA (BRA) lost out in golden score to GRANDA from a forceful o-soto-gari for ippon.
The first bronze medal was won by world number 49 Daniel ALLERSTORFER (AUT) who upset MOURA as Austria won a third medal during the final block on day three. ALLERSTORFER won his fourth Grand Prix medal at the expense of the world number four who lost out by ippon with 19 seconds left on the clock. MOURA remains without an IJF medal in 2018 and his stock continues to fall on the IJF World Judo Tour at a crucial time in the race for Tokyo 2020.
The second bronze medal went to BASHAEV after Bratislava European Cup gold medallist Vladut SIMIONESCU (ROU) was penalised for the third and final time in golden score. Tunis Grand Prix bronze medallist BASHAEV outworked the four-time Grand Prix medallist from Romania whose timing was off throughout the contest.
Final KRPALEK, Lukas (CZE) vs GRANDA, Andy (CUB)
Bronze Medal Fights ALLERSTORFER, Daniel (AUT) vs MOURA, David (BRA) BASHAEV, Tamerlan (RUS) vs SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU)
Final Results
1. KRPALEK, Lukas (CZE) 2. GRANDA, Andy (CUB) 3. ALLERSTORFER, Daniel (AUT) 3. BASHAEV, Tamerlan (RUS) 5. MOURA, David (BRA) 5. SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU) 7. ISQUIERDO, Ruan (BRA) 7. SARNACKI, Maciej (POL)