Japan won their third title in Zagreb to tighten their grip of the medal table as NABEKURA Nami (JPN) ousted Olympic champion Tina TRSTENJAK (SLO) in the -63kg final.
France won their first gold medal of the competition as the -70kg title headed for Paris with World Judo Masters bronze medallist Marie Eve GAHIE (FRA) triumphing over Tokyo Grand Slam winner ONO Yoko (JPN).
The men’s categories were also hotly-contested as Kosovo’s first and only male representative on the IJF World Judo Tour won more silverware than his female counterparts for the first time in history. Paris Grand Slam winner Akil GJAKOVA (KOS) clinched a maiden Grand Prix title having watched his sister and European champion Nora GJAKOVA (KOS) finish fifth and Distria KRASNIQI (KOS) fall in the second round on Friday.
Germany won the heaviest weight category of the competition thus far (-81kg) as world number 10 Dominic RESSEL (GER) made his IJF World Judo Tour breakthrough by winning gold for the first time at this level. After two days of spectacular competition, Japan are out in front with three gold medals, one silver and four bronze ahead of Canada who have one medal of every colour and France who are third with one gold and one silver medal.
Zagreb Grand Prix officially opened
Croatian Judo Federation President, Dr. Sanda ?ORAK (below - centre), made the first address during the opening ceremony on Saturday. “Thank you very much for coming to Zagreb for the Grand Prix, thank you all. There are many athletes here including Olympic and world medallists. I hope you see some excellent judo and I wish you all a pleasant stay and hope you enjoy all the beauty of our city of Zagreb.”
The Personal Representative of the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Mr. Milan Badi - under whose auspices this competition has been organised, Mr. Milan Paveli, Head of the City Office for Sport and Youth, was next to address the crowd. “Dear athletes, dear friends, dear judoka, I welcome you all to Zagreb. Congratulations to the Croatian Judo Federation for organising this Grand Prix. Thank you to the IJF and I wish to all participants a lot of success and a pleasant stay in the city of Zagreb.”
The third and final speaker of the ceremony was Naser Al TAMEEMI (above - left), IJF General Treasurer, who declared the competition open. “Good afternoon Ms. President, Mr. Milan, ladies and gentlemen, first of all on behalf of IJF President Marius VIZER, I thank the Croatian Judo Federation for their organisation of this Grand Prix which has been a successful event based alone on the number of countries and judoka in action. As the IJF we are very happy with this event and I’d also like to thank the organising team who work so hard and I thank the media, the sponsors, all of our partners, and I wish you all an enjoyable competition. I hope you all have a good time and now I declare the competition officially open.”
Watch the third and final day of #JudoHohhot2018 live at www.IJF.org