FINAL RESULTS: WOMEN
-63kg: Germany’s TRAJDOS wins China’s Grand Prix for the second time
European Games winner Martyna TRAJDOS (GER) claimed her first IJF Grand Prix gold medal since 2013 as she defeated Asian-Pacific Championships bronze medallist TANG Jing (CHN) in the -63kg final. TRAJDOS was too strong for world number 25 and former Antalya Grand Prix silver medallist TANG who was thrown with an o-soto-gari and then an o-uchi-gari with 27 seconds left in a comprehensive win for the European standout.
In the first semi-final TRAJDOS emerged triumphant against Osaka Grand Slam bronze medallist NOUCHI Aimi (JPN) who was disqualified after picking up three shidos. In the second semi-final TANG beat Asian-Pacific Championships gold medallist YANG Junxia (CHN) by ippon to progress into the gold medal contest.
The first bronze medal contest was won by YANG who pinned down Junior World Championships silver medallist Laerke OLSEN (DEN) in the opening contest of Saturday’s final block. Hosts China made the best possible start to the medal rounds in front of an impressive and vocal crowd as YANG claimed her fifth Grand Prix medal.
The second bronze medal was won by NOUCHI who beat Pan-American Championships gold medallist Catherine BEAUCHEMIN-PINARD (CAN) after one minute of golden score with a ko-uchi-gari. NOUCHI was unable to defend her 2018 title and had tears in her eyes after claiming bronze which will see her remain firmly behind Japan’s leading contenders in the -63kg category.
Final TANG, Jing (CHN) vs TRAJDOS, Martyna (GER)
Bronze Medal Fights YANG, Junxia (CHN) vs OLSEN, Laerke (DEN) NOUCHI, Aimi (JPN) vs BEAUCHEMIN-PINARD, Catherine (CAN)
Final Results
1. TRAJDOS, Martyna (GER) 2. TANG, Jing (CHN) 3. YANG, Junxia (CHN) 3. NOUCHI, Aimi (JPN) 5. OLSEN, Laerke (DEN) 5. BEAUCHEMIN-PINARD, Catherine (CAN) 7. CHOI, Eunsol (KOR) 7. HAN, Hee Ju (KOR)
-70kg: Japan’s NIIZOE goes unbeaten to double Grand Prix gold medal collection
Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist NIIZOE Saki (JPN) captured her second Grand Prix gold medal with a straightforward win over Baku Grand Slam silver medallist Anna BERNHOLM (SWE) in the -70kg final. Two-time Grand Prix winner BERNHOLM was thrown with a ashi-guruma for the maximum score for NIIZOE who warmed up for the Grand Prix with a traditional Friday evening session at the Kodokan last week.
In the first semi-final BERNHOLM bested Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Giovanna SCOCCIMARRO (GER) by ippon while in the second semi-final NIIZOE dispatched world number 57 SUN Xiaoqian (CHN) by ippon.
The first bronze medal was awarded to former world number one Kelita ZUPANCIC (CAN) who wrapped up SUN on the ground with a sankaku-gatame for her second and match-winning waza-ari score to add to Canada’s growing medal collection in China.
The second bronze medal was won by SCOCCIMARRO who narrowly defeated world number 137 and IJF World Judo Tour debutant LEE Yewon (KOR) by a waza-ari score.
Final NIIZOE, Saki (JPN) vs BERNHOLM, Anna (SWE)
Bronze Medal Fights SUN, Xiaoqian (CHN) vs ZUPANCIC, Kelita (CAN) SCOCCIMARRO, Giovanna (GER) vs LEE, Yewon (KOR)
Final Results
1. NIIZOE, Saki (JPN) 2. BERNHOLM, Anna (SWE) 3. ZUPANCIC, Kelita (CAN) 3. SCOCCIMARRO, Giovanna (GER) 5. SUN, Xiaoqian (CHN) 5. LEE, Yewon (KOR) 7. TELTSIDOU, Elisavet (GRE) 7. HOWELL, Gemma (GBR)
FINAL RESULTS: MEN
-73kg: HEYDAROV wins back-to-back IJF events ahead of Worlds tilt
Baku Grand Slam winner Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE) won his second IJF World Judo Tour event in as many weeks as he beat former world bronze medallist Victor SCVORTOV (UAE) to top the -73kg podium in Hohhot. HEYDAROV won his first IJF gold medal at his home Grand Slam earlier this month and in Hohhot countered his rival from the United Arab Emirates for ippon to claim his first Grand Prix title.
In the first semi-final Ekaterinburg Grand Slam winner Tommy MACIAS (SWE) lost out to HEYDAROV by a waza-ari score. In the second semi-final SCVORTOV outlasted Pan American Championships silver medallist Arthur MARGELIDON (CAN) who was disqualified in golden score after receiving three penalties.
The first bronze medal was won by MARGELIDON who edged past teammate and Marrakech Grand Prix bronze medallist Antoine BOUCHARD (CAN) by a waza-ari score from a Mongolian front uchi-mata.
The second bronze medal went to Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Igor WANDTKE (GER) who drove past MACIAS in 18 seconds with an ippon-seoi-nage.
Final SCVORTOV, Victor (UAE) vs HEYDAROV, Hidayat (AZE)
Bronze Medal Fights MARGELIDON, Arthur (CAN) vs BOUCHARD, Antoine (CAN) MACIAS, Tommy (SWE) vs WANDTKE, Igor (GER)
Final Results
1. HEYDAROV, Hidayat (AZE) 2. SCVORTOV, Victor (UAE) 3. MARGELIDON, Arthur (CAN) 3. WANDTKE, Igor (GER) 5. BOUCHARD, Antoine (CAN) 5. MACIAS, Tommy (SWE) 7. ZINGG, Anthony (GER) 7. ESTRADA, Magdiel (CUB)
-81kg: Iranian ace MOLLAEI repeats Worlds final win over arch-rival from Japan
World champion Saeid MOLLAEI (IRI) underlined his superiority in a stacked weight category by winning a rematch of the 2018 Worlds final in spectacular fashion. MOLLAEI earned his first Grand Prix gold medal by throwing Worlds-bound FUJIWARA Sotaro (JPN) with a sode-tsurikomi-goshi for ippon which was arguably the ippon of the day. Japanese number one and three-time Grand Slam winner FUJIWARA showed his sportsmanship and respect for his conqueror by raising the hand of MOLLAEI after a thrilling finish to the second day of competition in Inner Mongolia.
In the first semi-final MOLLAEI threw Asian-Pacific Championships gold medallist OTGONBAATAR Uuganbaatar (MGL) and pinned down the crowd favourite to secure a place in the gold medal contest. In the second semi-final Paris Grand Slam winner Dominic RESSEL (GER) fell to FUJIWARA who trapped his German adversary with a kata-gatame to wrap up a place in the final after leading by a waza-ari score.
The first bronze medal was won by RESSEL who caught African Championships gold medallist Mohamed ABDELAAL (EGY) with a sumi-gaeshi for ippon.
The second bronze medal went to Asian-Pacific Championships bronze medallist LEE Sungho (KOR) who launched OTGONBAATAR for ippon after 36 seconds of golden score.
Final MOLLAEI, Saeid (IRI) vs FUJIWARA, Sotaro (JPN)
Bronze Medal Fights RESSEL, Dominic (GER) vs ABDELAAL, Mohamed (EGY) OTGONBAATAR, Uuganbaatar (MGL) vs LEE, Sungho (KOR)
Final Results
1. MOLLAEI, Saeid (IRI) 2. FUJIWARA, Sotaro (JPN) 3. RESSEL, Dominic (GER) 3. LEE, Sungho (KOR) 5. ABDELAAL, Mohamed (EGY) 5. OTGONBAATAR, Uuganbaatar (MGL) 7. BRIAND, Etienne (CAN) 7. NTANATSIDIS, Alexios (GRE)
