FINAL RESULTS: WOMEN
-78kg: MALZAHN beats the odds to defeat teammate WAGNER for gold
World number 12 Luise MALZAHN (GER) shocked Antalya Grand Prix winner Anna Maria WAGNER (GER) as she earned her second Grand Slam title against her younger, more fancied teammate. Germany’s 21-time Grand Prix medallist recorded her first international win over WAGNER in comprehensive fashion with a harai-makikomi and a o-uchi-gari stunning the world number eight who now has a battle on her hands to be picked for Tokyo 2020.
In the first semi-final MALZAHN beat European champion Madeleine MALONGA (FRA) by ippon while in the second semi-final WAGNER saw off Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Guusje STEENHUIS (NED).
The first bronze medal contest was won by world champion HAMADA Shori (JPN) who controlled STEENHUIS with her gripping and attacks to frustrate the Dutch judoka who received her third shido for passivity.
The second bronze medal was won by MALONGA who dropped under Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Klara APOTEKAR (SLO) for an ippon seoi-nage to claim her sixth Grand Slam medal and edge her closer to Tokyo 2020 selection.
Final WAGNER, Anna Maria (GER) vs MALZAHN, Luise (GER)
Bronze Medal Fights STEENHUIS, Guusje (NED) vs HAMADA, Shori (JPN) MALONGA, Madeleine (FRA) vs APOTEKAR, Klara (SLO)
Final Results
1. MALZAHN, Luise (GER) 2. WAGNER, Anna Maria (GER) 3. HAMADA, Shori (JPN) 3. MALONGA, Madeleine (FRA) 5. STEENHUIS, Guusje (NED) 5. APOTEKAR, Klara (SLO) 7. AGUIAR, Mayra (BRA) 7. VERKERK, Marhinde (NED)
+78kg: Ukraine’s long-term project KALANINA wins first major
Tel Aviv Grand Prix silver medallist Yelyzaveta KALANINA (UKR) won her maiden Grand Slam title with the best display of her young career. World Judo Masters bronze medallist Larisa CERIC (BIH) was thrown by the tallest judoka in the category as the raw talent of KALANINA was on display for the world to see. CERIC was denied a second Grand Slam crown by the first-time Grand Slam finalist who has all the tools to become a major contender in the women’s heavyweight category.
In the first semi-final Olympic bronze medallist Anamari VELENSEK (SLO) fell to KALANINA by a single waza-ari score to move into the women’s heavyweight final. In the second semi-final Antalya Grand Prix winner Iryna KINDZERSKA (AZE) fell to CERIC by a waza-ari score.
The first bronze medal was awarded to KINDZERSKA after Tbilisi Grand Prix bronze medallist Maryna SLUTSKAYA (BLR) was disqualified for three shidos to hand the hosts one more medal on the final day of competition.
The second bronze medal was won by VELENSEK who caught Ekaterinburg Grand Slam silver medallist Anne Fatoumata M BAIRO (FRA) twice with ashi-waza and scored a waza-ari on each occasion to power onto the podium.
Final KALANINA, Yelyzaveta (UKR) vs CERIC, Larisa (BIH)
Bronze Medal Fights SLUTSKAYA, Maryna (BLR) vs KINDZERSKA, Iryna (AZE) VELENSEK, Anamari (SLO) vs M BAIRO, Anne Fatoumata (FRA)
Final Results
1. KALANINA, Yelyzaveta (UKR) 2. CERIC, Larisa (BIH) 3. KINDZERSKA, Iryna (AZE) 3. VELENSEK, Anamari (SLO) 5. SLUTSKAYA, Maryna (BLR) 5. M BAIRO, Anne Fatoumata (FRA) 7. TARASOVA, Galyna (UKR) 7. CHIBISOVA, Kseniia (RUS)
FINAL RESULTS: MEN
-90kg: Former world champion beats Azerbaijan’s MEHDIYEV in Baku
Former world champion Nemanja MAJDOV (SRB) won his first Grand Slam title as he ended Azerbaijan’s hopes of gold in the -90kg category. The 2017 world title winner narrowly defeated Düsseldorf Grand Slam gold medallist Mammadali MEHDIYEV (AZE) by a waza-ari score to end his wait for gold on the Grand Slam stage and doubled his head-to-head advantage over his rival to 2-0.
In the first semi-final world champion Nikoloz SHERAZADISHVILI (ESP) was second best against MAJDOV who won after 16 seconds of golden score by ippon. In the second semi-final former world silver medallist TOTH Krisztian (HUN) lost out to MEHDIYEV by a waza-ari score in a nail-biting contest.
The first bronze medal was won by crowd favourite TOTH who denied three-time Grand Prix medallist Li KOCHMAN (ISR) a spot on the podium by the margin of a single waza-ari score.
The second bronze medal went to SHERAZADISHVILI who salvaged his day after Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Jesper SMINK (NED) could not compete due to injury.
Final MAJDOV, Nemanja (SRB) vs MEHDIYEV, Mammadali (AZE)
Bronze Medal Fights KOCHMAN, Li (ISR) vs TOTH, Krisztian (HUN) SHERAZADISHVILI, Nikoloz (ESP) vs SMINK, Jesper (NED)
Final Results
1. MAJDOV, Nemanja (SRB) 2. MEHDIYEV, Mammadali (AZE) 3. TOTH, Krisztian (HUN) 3. SHERAZADISHVILI, Nikoloz (ESP) 5. KOCHMAN, Li (ISR) 5. SMINK, Jesper (NED) 7. KHALMURZAEV, Khusen (RUS) 7. TRIPPEL, Eduard (GER)
-100kg: Flying Dutchman KORREL clinches Grand Slam hat-trick
Tbilisi Grand Prix gold medallist Michael KORREL (NED) defeated Tbilisi Grand Prix winner Kazbek ZANKISHIEV (RUS) to reign in Baku. KORREL prevailed after 68 seconds of golden score as he dropped under the Russian for a waza-ari score to decide the fate of the -100kg category.
In the first semi-final ZANKISHIEV defeated Osaka Grand Slam bronze medallist Jorge FONSECA (POR) by ippon in golden score from a juji-gatame. In the second semi-final KORREL bested world bronze medallist LKHAGVASUREN Otgonbaatar (MGL) by a waza-ari score.
The first bronze medal was won by Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Zelym KOTSOIEV (AZE) who threw LKHAGVASUREN in the centre of the mat with a uchi-mata for ippon after 80 seconds of golden score.
The second bronze medal went to Marrakech Grand Prix winner Benjamin FLETCHER (IRL) who dispatched a worn out FONSECA after 78 seconds of golden score by a waza-ari score.
Final ZANKISHIEV, Kazbek (RUS) vs KORREL, Michael (NED)
Bronze Medal Fights KOTSOIEV, Zelym (AZE) vs LKHAGVASUREN, Otgonbaatar (MGL) FONSECA, Jorge (POR) vs FLETCHER, Benjamin (IRL)
Final Results
1. KORREL, Michael (NED) 2. ZANKISHIEV, Kazbek (RUS) 3. KOTSOIEV, Zelym (AZE) 3. FLETCHER, Benjamin (IRL) 5. LKHAGVASUREN, Otgonbaatar (MGL) 5. FONSECA, Jorge (POR) 7. NIKIFOROV, Toma (BEL) 7. BAUZA, Karolis (LTU)
+100kg: Junior world champion steps up for Grand Slam glory in Baku
Junior World Championships gold medallist Gela ZAALISHVILI (GEO) made an impression on the IJF World Judo Tour to open his senior medal account on the international stage. ZAALISHVILI countered a sasae-tsurikomi-ashi attempt from Tunis Grand Prix bronze medallist Ruslan SHAKHBAZOV (RUS) with te-waza for a waza-ari score and added a second waza-ari to seal a decisive victory in the last contest of the Grand Slam in Azerbaijan.
In the first semi-final ZAALISHVILI downed Tel Aviv Grand Prix bronze medallist Anton KRIVOBOKOV (RUS) by ippon while In the second semi-final SHAKHBAZOV profited from a below-par performance from Tbilisi Grand Prix silver medallist Aliaksandr VAKHAVIAK (BLR) who was disqualified after receiving three penalties.
The first bronze medal was won by Antalya Grand Prix bronze medallist Vladut SIMIONESCU (ROU) who launched VAKHAVIAK with a uchi-mata for a waza-ari score and held down the Belarus judoka for 10 seconds and a place on the medal podium.
The second bronze medal went to KRIVOBOKOV floored former world bronze medallist Yakiv KHAMMO (UKR) for a waza-ari and calmly held down the highly-rated Ukrainian for his second and match-winning score.
Final SHAKHBAZOV, Ruslan (RUS) vs ZAALISHVILI, Gela (GEO)
Bronze Medal Fights VAKHAVIAK, Aliaksandr (BLR) vs SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU) KRIVOBOKOV, Anton (RUS) vs KHAMMO, Yakiv (UKR)
Final Results
1. ZAALISHVILI, Gela (GEO) 2. SHAKHBAZOV, Ruslan (RUS) 3. SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU) 3. KRIVOBOKOV, Anton (RUS) 5. VAKHAVIAK, Aliaksandr (BLR) 5. KHAMMO, Yakiv (UKR) 7. KOTSOIEV, Rustam (AZE) 7. HEINLE, Sven (GER)