Women’s -63kg and -70kg and Men’s -81kg and -90kg
The second day of competition at the 27th Summer Universiade, Kazan 2013, just came to an end with four new champions and three countries in gold, Korea having won two more titles (yesterday Korea won the men’s +100kg) in the women’s -70kg and men’s -90kg weight categories, France and Japan sharing the two remaining categories. At the end of this second day, France and Japan have exactly the same number of medals, three, with the exact same colors (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze). Once again the atmosphere in the stadium was festive, specially when Russian fighters were entering the Tatneft Arena and even if the final block of today’s competition was a little more tensed than the preliminary rounds, the judo show was unbelievable and the 103 athletes of the day literally produced a ippon festival.
Women’s -63kg: Di Cintio from France Brings First Gold Back Home
Maelle Di Cintio, who finished second at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, won the first gold medal for France in this tournament. In the final, she defeated the 20-year old Japanese, SANO Kayoko, after a very tactical but intense and interesting to follow fight. Even though that throughout the duration of the combat, it looked like the victory could go either way, particularly at the end, Di Cintio was strong enough to keep her small penalty advantage up until the end.
The first bronze medal went to Kathrin UNTERWURZACHER (AUT) who scored three yuko before concluding with an immobilization for ippon. The second bronze medal went to the home athlete, Marta LABAZINA (RUS), who defeated Maryna MURASHKO (UKR) by penalties.
Final: SANO, Kayoko (JPN) vs. DI CINTIO, Maelle (FRA): Semi-Finals: SANO, Kayoko (JPN) vs. MURASHKO, Maryna (UKR)
DI CINTIO, Maelle (FRA) vs. UNTERWURZACHER, Kathrin (AUT). Bronze Medal Fights: CACHOLA, Ana (POR) vs. UNTERWURZACHER, Kathrin (AUT) LABAZINA, Marta (RUS) vs. MURASHKO, Maryna (UKR)
Women’s -70kg: After her Continental Title, HWANG Grabs the Universiade Title in Kazan
In a not very spectacular final, the strongest athlete of the day was HWANG Ye Sul (KOR), who totally blocked ZHAO Jia (CHN) from building her system of attack. Incapable of throwing her opponent, the Chinese was penalized four times for hansokumake. After having finished at the foot of the podium of the London 2012 Olympic Games, this victory represents a second major result for the Korean, who already won the Asian Championship in Bangkok, last April.
The first bronze medal went to Fanny Estelle POSVITE (FRA). This award represents the third medal for France in the Judo tournament. Just after having scored waza-ari, Posvite concluded the fight without difficulties by an immobilization for ippon. The second bronze medal fight was won by the Cuban Onix CORTES ALDAMA, second in Miami a few weeks ago, who largely dominated Tserenkhand TSENDSUREN (MGL).
Final: HWANG, Ye Sul (KOR) vs. ZHAO, Jia (CHN)
TSENDSUREN, Tserenkhand (MGL) vs. CORTES ALDAMA, Onix (CUB)
Men’s -81kg: First Gold Medal for Japan
It is a pretty young and unexperienced delegation that Japan brought to Kazan, Russia, for this 27th Summer Universiade. With a second place at the European Open, Tbilisi 2013, and some places of honor gained in U20 competitions, the 19 year-old Japanese athlete, NAGASE Takanori, gave its first gold medal in the judo competition to the Japanese delegation. Completely exhausted at the end of the final, his opponent, Yakhyo IMAMOV (UZB), was incapable of scoring when he needed a waza-ari at least to come back to a tie. Earlier during the final, NAGASE scored with a far-distanced but precise and effective o-guruma.
The first bronze medal was won by Mammadali MEHDIYEV (AZE) who defeated GAO Haiyuan (CHN) by ippon after an incredibly intense fight, both fighters putting a lot of energy in all their attacks. The second bronze medal went to the Hungarian delegation, with Laszlo CSOKNYAI who didn’t give a chance to LEE Seungsu (KOR) and pushed him to be penalized four times for hansokumake. Laszlo CSOKNYAI (HUN) exploded with joy as if he had won the title.
Final: IMAMOV, Yakhyo (UZB) vs. NAGASE, Takanori (JPN)
Men’s -90kg: The Korean New Gereration
The last final of the day was won by a ‘new’ Korean fighter, GWAK Donghan, who at the end of the match accumulated less penalties than his more experienced opponent, BUNDDORJ Janchivdorj (MGL). Nevertheless, with a silver medal around his neck, the Mongolian athlete obtained the best result of his season so far.
Alexandr JURECKA seems to have a subscription to bronze medals. After having finished third at the Baku Grand Slam and at the Samsun Grand Prix this year, he gained a third bronze medal in a row here in Kazan. In the bronze medal fight, he threw Chingiz MAMEDOV (KGZ) with a tremendous o-uchi-gari for ippon. The second bronze medal went to bonze medallist of the last European Championships in Budapest, Kirill VOPROSOV (RUS), who tool the victory (waza-ari) with a huge shoulder movement that was first counted as ippon, before being corrected by the two judges sitting behind the video table.
Final: GWAK, Donghan (KOR) vs. BUNDDORJ, Janchivdorj (MGL)
Semi-Finals: GWAK, Donghan (KOR) vs. VOPROSOV, Kirill (RUS), BUNDDORJ, Janchivdorj (MGL) vs. JURECKA, Alexandr (CZE)
Bronze Medal Fights: MAMEDOV, Chingiz (KGZ) vs. JURECKA, Alexandr (CZE) KUKOLJ, Aleksandar (SRB) vs. VOPROSOV, Kirill (RUS)
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