WOMEN
-78kg: World Champion Hamada confirms Japanese Supremacy
There was no doubt that the reigning World Champion, HAMADA Shori, was the undisputed favorite in the category. She won all her preliminary rounds by ippon, successively defeating Sophie BERGER (BEL), Teresa ZENKER (GER) and Vanessa CHALA (ECU). In the final she was opposed to Russian Aleksandra BABINTSEVA, bronze medalist of the last world championships.
Despite the fact that HAMADA was much smaller than BABINTSEVA, after less than a minute, she launched her first strong attack, with a uchi-mata, that went under the center of gravity of the Russian, who couldn't escape and was thrown on her back for ippon. After the landing, BABINTSEVA was in position to armlock HAMADA, but it was too late. This is the sixth gold medal for Japan.
The first bronze medal contest opposed the 2019 Pan-American bronze medallist, Nefeli PAPADAKIS (USA) and the winner of 2018 Agadir Grand Prix Maike ZIECH (GER). With one minute and 19 seconds left, the German was penalized with a first shido for blocking her opponent. It was then PAPADAKIS' turn to be penalized for false attack. Penalized a second time in the Golden score, PAPADAKIS had then to submit to ZIECH's strangle attempt, for ippon. This is the second medal for ZIECH in a Grand Prix.
The second bronze medal contest saw the bronze medallist of the 2018 The Hague Grand Prix, Samanta SOARES (BRA) and two-time Pan-American bronze medallist, Vanessa CHALA (ECU), competing for a place on the podium. Half way to the end of the match, nothing was scored but SOARES was penalized a first time for a pistol grip. With 14 seconds left, the Brazilian was penalized a second time for false attack. It was time for Golden Score. After 42 seconds of extra-time, CHALA was also penalized with a shido for passivity. A very last false attack of SOARES offered the first medal in a Grand Prix to Vanessa CHALA.
Final
HAMADA, Shori (JPN) vs. BABINTSEVA, Aleksandra (RUS)
Bronze Medal Contests
PAPADAKIS, Nefeli (USA) vs. ZIECH, Maike (GER)
SOARES, Samanta (BRA) vs. CHALA, Vanessa (ECU)
Final Results
1. HAMADA, Shori (JPN)
2. BABINTSEVA, Aleksandra (RUS)
3. CHALA, Vanessa (ECU)
3. ZIECH, Maike (GER)
5. PAPADAKIS, Nefeli (USA)
5. SOARES, Samanta (BRA)
7. PACUT, Beata (POL)
7. ZENKER, Teresa (GER)
+78kg: ASAHINA for Japan Without a Shot
For many years, Japan has had a strong tradition in the +78kg category and World Champion ASAHINA Sarah (JPN) was definitely the main favorite in Montreal. No one could oppose her during the playoffs of the competition. In the final she was opposed to Raz HERSHKO (ISR).
The difference in size and ranking were clearly to the advantage of the Japanese, who rapidly scored a first waza-ari, almost immediately followed with a ippon with a te-waza technique.
The first bronze medal contest opposed the second Japanese and three time Grand Slam winner, INAMORI Nami (JPN), and Croatian Ivana SUTALO, who's best results was a gold medal at the 2017 Cancun Grand Prix. In pure Japanese style, it took one minute and twenty seconds for INAMORI Nami to score ippon with a ashy-waza technique to win her third medal in a Grand Prix.
The second bronze medal contest opposed four time continental medallist, Nina CUTRO-KELLY (USA) and Pan-American bronze medallist, Melissa MOJICA (PUR). After one minute and twenty seconds, MOJICA scored the first waza-ari with a kochi-waza technique. It is not the few penalties that were distributed after, that changed the final result and Melissa MOJICA won her third medal in a Grand Prix.
Final
ASAHINA, Sarah (JPN) vs. HERSHKO, Raz (ISR)
Bronze Medal Contests
INAMORI, Nami (JPN) vs. SUTALO, Ivana (CRO)
CUTRO-KELLY, Nina (USA) vs. MOJICA, Melissa (PUR)
Final Results
1. ASAHINA, Sarah (JPN)
2. HERSHKO, Raz (ISR)
3. INAMORI, Nami (JPN)
3. MOJICA, Melissa (PUR)
5. CUTRO-KELLY, Nina (USA)
5. SUTALO, Ivana (CRO)
7. GERI, Eleonora (ITA)
7. WILLIAMS, Mackenzie (USA)
MEN
-90kg: Olympic Champion BAKER wins gold for Japan
Three time continental medalist Colton Brown (USA) was on fire today in the men's -90kg weight division. He entered the final for the first time on the occasion of a Grand Prix to be opposed to the current Olympic Champion, BAKER Mashu, who had an amazing series of wins during the morning session, winning three of his matches by ippon and one by waza-ari.
After approximately one minute, a first shido was given to BROWN for blocking his opponent. With a bit more than one minute to go, BAKER was also penalized with a shido. With ten second left, and as the Golden Score was approaching, BROWN launched an uchi-mata, immediately countered with in uchi-mata-sukashi for a waza-ari offering the victory to the Olympic Champion. Maybe not the most spectacular match of BAKER, but efficient.
The first bronze medal match opposed the 2017 Junior World Championships bronze medallist, Eduard TRIPPEL (GER) and the 2014 Junior World Champion, Rafael MACEDO (BRA). TRIPPEL scored the first waza-ari with a superb sumi-gaeshi, that propelled MACEDO in the air of the Maurice Richard arena. The German was close to score a second time with an other sutemi-waza, but the Brazilian escapes. With a powerful drop-morote-seoi-nage, MACEDO scored a waza-ari just after the first two minutes. With a little more than one minute to go, TRIPPLE tried to conclude, but his attack was lacking control and MACEDO, very stable on his feet, countered the German, to score his second waza-ari.
The second bronze medal contest saw Mohab ELNAHAS (CAN), who so far had no record on the international scene, and Milan RANDL (SVK), bronze medal of the Moscow Grand Slam in 2012, opposed for a spot on the podium. RANDL was the first in action, scoring a waza-ari with a te-waza technique to take a strong lead. Then he controlled the rest of the match to take his second medal in a Grand Prix.
Final
BROWN, Colton (USA) vs. BAKER, Mashu (JPN)
Bronze Medal Contests
TRIPPEL, Eduard (GER) vs. MACEDO, Rafael (BRA)
ELNAHAS, Mohab (CAN) vs. RANDL, Milan (SVK)
Final Results
1. BAKER, Mashu (JPN)
2. BROWN, Colton (USA)
3. MACEDO, Rafael (BRA)
3. RANDL, Milan (SVK)
5. ELNAHAS, Mohab (CAN)
5. TRIPPEL, Eduard (GER)
7. BURT, Zachary (CAN)
7. KRIEBER GAGNON, Louis (CAN)
-100kg: Top Seed DARWISH Wins gold in Montreal
The final opposed top seed Ramadan DARWISH (EGY) and Shady ELNAHAS (CAN), who produced an incredible performance in the semi-final when he threw with a massive o-goshi, world bronze medallist Karl-Richard FREY (GER) for ippon.
The host country was hoping that its eighth medal would be gold but after a bit more than thirty seconds, ELNAHAS launched a first attack that was definitely not strong enough to bother Ramadan DARWISH, who calmly but surely counterattacked for a clear ippon.
The first bronze medal contest opposed 2018 Zagreb Grand Prix silver medallist, Kyle REYES (CAN) and Karl-Richard FREY (GER), who finished third on the occasion of the last Hohhot Grand Prix. Half way to the end, FREY was penalized a first time, for a forbidden grip and then a second time for blocking his opponent. Despite those penalties, the rhythm of the match was impressive and there was a feeling that any attack could decide who the winner would be. It is with a ko-soto-gake that eventually Kyle REYES scored a waza-ari that needed the video to be confirmed, to win a eighth medal for the host country.
The second bronze medal contest opposed Zlatko KUMRIC (CRO), who finished at the bottom of the podium on the occasion of the last European Games and Leonardo GONCALVES (BRA), Junior World Championships silver medallist in 2015. In less than ten seconds, GONCALVES surprised his opponent with a left handed ko-uchi-gari for a first waza-ari. The sasae-tsurikomi-ashi executed by KUMRIC gave him also a waza-ari. With 19 seconds left GONCALVES counterattacked one last attack of KUMRIC to score the second wazea-ari and win his first medal in a Grand Prix.
Final
DARWISH, Ramadan (EGY) vs. ELNAHAS, Shady (CAN)
Bronze Medal Contests
REYES, Kyle (CAN) vs. FREY, Karl-Richard (GER)
KUMRIC, Zlatko (CRO) vs. GONCALVES, Leonardo (BRA)
Final Results
1. DARWISH, Ramadan (EGY)
2. ELNAHAS, Shady (CAN)
3. GONCALVES, Leonardo (BRA)
3. REYES, Kyle (CAN)
5. FREY, Karl-Richard (GER)
5. KUMRIC, Zlatko (CRO)
7. BUZACARINI, Rafael (BRA)
7. HAGA, Ryunosuke (JPN)
+100kg: It was not easy, but Riner Remains the king
For several months, Judo fans have been waiting for the comeback of King Teddy Riner. Announced several times on the world circuit, he made the choice to return to the competition in Montreal. Since the announcement of his participation, the fever had risen a notch and since the first hours of the tournament, all eyes were on the heavyweight category. Nobody was disappointed. After the first two rounds well within reach for the ten-time World Champion and two time Olympic Champion, the semi-final against the -100kg Olympic champion, Lukas KRPALEK (CZE), now competing on +100kg, was announced to be explosive and it was. Teddy said it, he is not 100% ready yet. KRPALEK stepped on the tatami, convinced that he could take advantage of the situation. It took almost three minutes of golden score, so that the French giant eventually find the opportunity to throw his opponent. But there was still a match, and not the least, since the final saw Teddy Riner opposed to the Japanese HARASAWA Hisayoshi, who he defeated in the final of last Olympic Games.
The French was penalized with a first shido after less than a minute for a forbidden grip. It was HARASAWA's turn then to be penalized twice and fifty seconds to the end, Riner was penalize again, two shido each. It was time for a second Golden Score for the French and the first one of the day for HARASAWA. The arena's tension was raising second after second. The public was supporting RINER, but everyone in the stands could feel that something could happen. What happened though is what has been happening for many years, at the end the King remained the king, when Teddy Riner threw HARASAWA for waza-ari.
The first bronze medal contest opposed the 2019 Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist, Vladut SIMIONESCU (ROU) and world number four David MOURA (BRA). In less than 20 seconds, MOURA scored a first waza-ari, with a left-handed soto-makikomi and then controlled the rest of the bout to win his seventh medal in a Grand Prix.
The second bronze medal contest opposed 2018 Agadir gold medallist, Johannes FREY (GER) and -100 Olympic Champion Lukas KRPALEK (CZE). After one minute and twenty seconds, both athletes were penalized for passivity. After a beautiful sequence on the floor, KRPALEK turned over FREY to immobilize him for ippon and to win an impressive eleventh medal in a Grand Prix.
Final
RINER, Teddy (FRA) vs. HARASAWA, Hisayoshi (JPN)
Bronze medal Contests
SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU) vs. MOURA, David (BRA)
FREY, Johannes (GER) vs. KRPALEK, Lukas (CZE)
Final Results
1. RINER, Teddy (FRA)
2. HARASAWA, Hisayoshi (JPN)
3. KRPALEK, Lukas (CZE)
3. MOURA, David (BRA)
5. FREY, Johannes (GER)
5. SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU)
7. ANDRES, Joe Casey (CAN)
7. DESCHENES, Marc (CAN)