While Mr. Putin and Mr. Battulga -- who is also President of the Mongolian Judo Association - were among the world leaders who visited the IJF's flagship event in Budapest, Prime Minister of Japan Shinz Abe, linked up with the group in Vladivostok and joined them in attending a junior judo competition which was part of the sporting programme of the Eastern Economic Forum.
The Annual International Vladivostok Jigoro Kano Junior Judo Tournament was contested between Russia, Mongolia and Japan with 161 judoka competing (82 men, 79 women) and was supported by the International Judo Federation.
Japan led the way on the tatami, as they did in Budapest, with 19-year-old Paris Grand Slam winner Iida Kentaro and 17-year-old Tokyo Grand Slam gold medallist Abe Uta among their winners.
During the Forum itself, Prime Minister of Japan Shinz Abe, invited the President of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Putin, and President of Mongolia, Mr. Battulga Khaltmaa, to take part in randori in Japan with All Japan Judo Federation President and IJF Development Director Mr. Yamashita Yasuhiro.
Vladivostok is the administrative, cultural, scientific, and economic center of Primorsky Krai and the Vladivostok urban district, as well as the largest research and educational center of the Far East region. Far Eastern Federal University and the Far Eastern branch of the Russian Academy of Science are located in the city.
Click here for results from the Annual International Vladivostok Jigoro Kano Junior Judo Tournament