CHIBANA clinches career-best wins for Brazil

Moscow – Russia, July 23, 2013: Chibana, The opening day of the Judo Grand Slam, Moscow 2013, produced a pulsating day of competition at the teeming Krylatskoe Palace of Sport on Saturday. The venue was awash with colour as young supporters proudly wore the Russian colours of red, white and blue and waved the ‘Trikolor’ flag.

As the last senior event on the World Judo Tour before the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro next month, the talent-rich field all aimed to register a crucial victory to boost their world ranking position and gain a psychological edge over their rivals. With the pressure at a season-high every judoka had to take a deep breath, control their emotions and summon every ounce of energy from their body to fulfil their talent.

Seven weight categories were in action as the women’s -48kg, -52kg, -57kg and -63kg categories and the men’s -60kg, -66kg and -73kg categories all took to the tatami.

After dancers provided a vibrant start to the opening ceremony, delegates took to the stage to officially open the two-day event.

Mr. Alexey Vorobyov, Head of Department of Physical Culture and Sport in Moscow, said: “Dear citizens, guests and athletes, I’d like to welcome you here at this big judo event. With 40 countries participating there is great interest and I hope to see a very interesting final block today.”

Mr. Sergei Soloveychik, International Judo Federation Vice President, EJU President and Russian Judo Federation Vice President, said: “In the name of the IJF and Russian Judo Federation I would like to welcome you here to Moscow for one of the biggest events on the calendar and I’d like to thank the city of Moscow for their support. The event is an important opportunity for athletes to gain ranking points for the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. I’d like to wish the athletes a successful day and I am delighted to announce that the Moscow Grand Slam is officially open.”

2013 World Championship hosts Brazil showed they are ready to welcome and take on the world in Rio as they won seven medals on the opening day.

WOMEN: -48kg: Unstoppable world leader MENEZES heads to Rio as hot favourite

World leader Sarah MENEZES (BRA) won the Moscow Grand Slam last year and went on to win Olympic gold. MENEZES successfully defended her title in Russia today and will see the victory as a platform to win her first world title next month in her homeland. For all her lightning quick reflexes and breathtaking ability, the Brazilian superstar bested a gutsy Otgontsetseg GALBADRAKH (MGL) by way of two shido scores.

The first bronze medal was won by Lusine AVAKYAN (RUS), who finished in seventh-place at the Madrid European Open, as she bested Prague European Open winner Valentina MOSCATT (ITA). AVAKYAN was backed all the way by the home crowd and enthralled her compatriots as she was dynamic in ne-waza and forced MOSCATT to submit with a well-executed piece of shime-waza. The second bronze medal went to Lisbon European Open bronze medallist Monica UNGUREANU (ROU) who ensured a frustrating day for Olympic bronze medallist Charline VAN SNICK (BEL). UNGUREANU was brighter throughout as VAN SNICK received two shido penalties and, with no scores registered, the Romanian registered a notable result.

Final Results: 1. MENEZES, Sarah (BRA). 2. GALBADRAKH, Otgontsetseg (MGL). 3. AVAKYAN, Lusine (RUS). 3. UNGUREANU, Monica (ROU). 5. MOSCATT, Valentina (ITA). 5. VAN SNICK, Charline (BEL). 7. ROSSENEU, Amelie (BEL). 7. BOGDAN, Carmen (ROU)

-52kg: SUNDBERG stars with second successive Grand Slam gold

Baku Grand Slam winner Jaana SUNDBERG (FIN) alerted her rivals to ever-growing presence on the World Judo Tour as she starred in Moscow to top the medal podium at her second successive Grand Slam. SUNDBERG faced world number seven Erika MIRANDA (BRA) in the final with the Brazilian ace aiming to defend her 2012 Moscow Grand Slam title. SUNDBERG showed her quality as she dispatched MIRANDA with an uchi-mata for ippon.

The first bronze medal was awarded to Lisbon European Open silver medallist Roni SCHWARTZ (ISR) who bested former Russian national champion Yulia RYZHOVA (RUS) to win her first Grand Slam medal on shido scores. The second bronze medal also went to Israel as Madrid European Open winner Gili COHEN (ISR) outlasted world number four Andreea CHITU (ROU) in golden score. Both judoka entered golden score with two shido penalties to their name and CHITU was penalised for a third and final ocassion after one minute of added time to gift the medal to COHEN.

Final Results: 1. SUNDBERG, Jaana (FIN). 2. MIRANDA, Erika (BRA). 3. SCHWARTZ, Roni (ISR). 3. COHEN, Gili (ISR). 5. RYZHOVA, Yulia (RUS). 5. CHITU, Andreea (ROU). 7. WOLFSLAG, Miranda (NED). 7. ENTE, Birgit (NED).

-57kg: ROPER rules in Russia

World number six Miryam ROPER (GER) is becoming used to hearing the German anthem at Grand Slam events after winning back-to-back Grand Slam competitions. ROPER, 31, has been an irresistible form this year with a Miami Grand Prix bronze medal splitting her Grand Slam wins. The formidable German was lively from the outset against Beijing 2008 Olympic bronze medallist and FISU Universiade winner Ketleyn QUADROS (BRA). ROPER went ahead with a yuko from a sumi-gaeshi and captured the title as she countered an ashi-waza attempt from the Brazilian with a ko-soto-gake for ippon. With a beaming smile ROPER revelled in her richly-deserved success and heads to Rio in the best form of her career.

The first bronze medal was won by European Championship silver medallist Sabrina FILZMOSER (AUT) who showed her experience as she dealt with the considerable threat of the emerging European u23 champion Juul FRANSSEN (NED). FILZMOSER ended the hopes of FRANSSEN inside two minutes with a yuko paving the way for her to attack with greater potency which yielded an ippon. The second bronze medal went to former World Championship silver medallist and top seed Rafaela SILVA (BRA) who won her fifth Grand Slam medal at the tender age of 21. SILVA is yet to win gold on the Grand Slam stage but has time on her side and today she showed her mettle as she bounced back from a semi-final defeat to teammate QUADROS to win her latest honour. Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Kifayat GASIMOVA (AZE) received two shido penalties as she failed to live with the Brazilian livewire which settled the contest as neither judoka could trouble the scoreboard.

Final Results: 1. ROPER, Miryam (GER). 2. QUADROS, Ketleyn (BRA). 3. FILZMOSER, Sabrina (AUT). 3. SILVA, Rafaela (BRA). 5. FRANSSEN, Juul (NED). 5. GASIMOVA, Kifayat (AZE). 7. MUELLER, Johanna (GER) 7. OTOMO, Makiko (JPN)

-63kg: GERBI grinds out gold medal to reclaim world lead

Yarden GERBI (ISR) recaptured the world number one top spot with a lung-bursting effort in Moscow which ended with a narrow win against world number five Anicka VAN EMDEN (NED). Baku Grand Slam winner GERBI has been sensational on the World Judo Tour this year and her consistency shows in her ranking which was sealed by VAN EMDEN receiving a shido for passivity which separated the judoka after five minutes.

The first bronze medal was won by Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Martyna TRAJDOS (GER) who held down Pan American Championship bronze medallist Mariana SILVA (BRA). TRAJDOS countered an ura-nage attempt to land on top of her rival and take the lead with a yuko. The German added a second and transitioned into osaekomi-waza as she tightly secured SILVA with a kuzure-kesa-gatame for ippon. The second bronze medal was clinched by teenage Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist Mungunchimeg BALDORJ (MGL) who impressed once again as she humbled 2012 Moscow Grand Slam bronze medallist Hilde DREXLER (AUT). BALDORJ was overwhelmed by the result and left the mat in tears of euphoria as she stunned DREXLER with just 15 seconds left in scoreless contest as she surged forward and floored the Austrian with a measured piece of ashi-waza for a yuko.

Final Results: 1. GERBI, Yarden (ISR). 2. VAN EMDEN, Anicka (NED). 3. BALDORJ, Mungunchimeg (MGL) 3. TRAJDOS, Martyna (GER). 5. DREXLER, Hilde (AUT). 5. SILVA, Mariana (BRA). 7. BELOIVANOVA, Anastasia (RUS). 7. SURAKATOVA, Pari (RUS)

MEN: -60kg: PAPINASHVILI prevails to become world leader

European champion Amiran PAPINASHVILI (GEO) displaced Japanese prodigy TAKATO Naohisa (JPN) at the summit of the -60kg rankings with gold in Moscow. PAPINASHVILI faced London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Felipe KITADAI (BRA) in the final and secured a resounding win with a hane-goshi for ippon.

The first bronze medal was won by Ilgar MUSHKIYEV (AZE) who repeated his 2012 result by defeating Hevorh HEVORHYAN (UKR) who finished in seventh-place at the Samsun Grand Prix. MUSHKIYEV found himself a waza-ari behind but cme back strongly to score a yuko with a sumi-gaeshi before countering an uchi-mata attempt with brute force to drive his opponent over for a waza-ari which completed the scoring. The second bronze medal was won by former European Championship runner-up Hovhannes DAVTYAN (ARM) who dominated Dutch national champion Mikos SALMINEN (NED) as a waza-ari and three yuko scores guided him to victory.

Final Results: 1. PAPINASHVILI, Amiran (GEO). 2. KITADAI, Felipe (BRA). 3. DAVTYAN, Hovhannes (ARM). 3. MUSHKIYEV, Ilgar (AZE). 5. SALMINEN, Mikos (NED). 5. HEVORHYAN, Hevorh (UKR). 7. GERCHEV, Yanislav (BUL). 7. PETRIKOV, Pavel (CZE)

-66kg: CHIBANA clinches career-best win for Brazil

Pan American Championship bronze medallist Charles CHIBANA (BRA) shone in the -66kg category as he delivered the performance of his career to win his first Grand Slam title. CHIBANA, 23, was ruthless in attack against former European Championship bronze medallist Colin OATES (GBR) in the final. The Brazilian opened the scoring after 30 seconds with a waza-ari from a morote-eri-seoi-nage. After OATES, who finished in seventh-place at London 2012, received a shido for avoiding to take a grip, CHBANA burst into action as he produced a ko-soto-gari for waza-ari-awasette-ippon.

The first bronze medal went to Miami Grand Prix bronze medallist and world number 13 Luiz REVITE (BRA) in a very competitive contest against Baku Grand Slam silver medallist Nijat SHIKHALIZADA (AZE). REVITE opened the scoring with an uchi-mata for a waza-ari before SHIKHALIZDA replied with a waza-ari of his own. The Brazilian sealed the first Grand Slam medal of his flourishing career as he countered a harai-makikomi attempt for waza-ari-awasette-ippon. The second bronze medal was won by the accomplished Mirzahid FARMONOV (UZB) who proved too much for Tajikistan national champion Rasul ABDUSHARIPOV (TJK). FARMONOV, the 2012 Moscow Grand Slam winner, ensured he would once again feature on the Moscow medal podium as he stepped up his work rate in the final minute to win by ippon after taking the lead with a yuko.

Final Results: 1. CHIBANA, Charles (BRA). 2. OATES, Colin (GBR). 3. REVITE, Luiz (BRA). 3. FARMONOV, Mirzahid (UZB). 5. SHIKHALIZADA, Nijat (AZE). 5. ABDUSHARIPOV, Rasul (TJK). 7. LAVRENTIEV, Denis (RUS). 7. KHAN-MAGOMEDOV, Kamal (RUS)

-73kg: VAN TICHELT leaves it late to deny Russia gold

World number four Dirk VAN TICHELT (BEL) denied the crowd a home winner in Bucharest European Open winner Denis IARTCEV (RUS) with just nine seconds left in the contest. Miami Grand Prix winner VAN TICHELT was trailing after being penalised with a shido for passivity and worked tirelessly to create an opening as the crowd found their full voice for their best performing judoka of the day. As 22-year-old IARTCEV attacked he left himself open a counter and VAN TICHELT wrapped his legs around the Russian before forcing him off balance for a yuko.

The first bronze medal was clinched by former Asian Championship bronze medallist Navruz JURAKOBILOV (UZB) who bested former Junior European Championship bronze medallist Enrico PARLATI (ITA). JURAKOBILOV unlocked his legs from those of highly-rated 21-year-old Italian to hold him down in mune-gatame which restricted PARLATI to the extent that he tapped out 18 seconds into the osaekomi. The second bronze medal was won by European Championship bronze medallist Zebeda REKHVIASHVILI (GEO) who secured a significant triumph over world number three Tsagaanbaatar KHASHBAATAR (MGL). REKHVIASHVILI stood tall as KHASHBAATAR, who surprisingly fell to IARTCEV in the semi-final, lowered his stance and was caught with a ko-soto-gake for ippon.

Final Results: 1. VAN TICHELT, Dirk (BEL). 2. IARTCEV, Denis (RUS). 3. JURAKOBILOV, Navruz (UZB). 3. REKHVIASHVILI, Zebeda (GEO). 5. PARLATI, Enrico (ITA). 5. KHASHBAATAR, Tsagaanbaatar (MGL). 7. ORUJOV, Rustam (AZE). 7. DELPOPOLO, Nicholas (USA)