The Judo Grand Prix QINGDAO – China, DAY 1

QINGDAO – China, Dec 18, 2011: The first day of the JUDO GRAND PRIX Qingdao 2011 offered very spectacular fights with many ippon (the judo’s KO). The most part of the favorites won the Gold medals. The Champions of the first five categories are: Charline VAN SNICK (Belgium), Georgii ZANTARAIA (Ukraine), Bundmaa MUNKHBATAAR (Mongolia), Alim GADANOV (Russia) and Jan-Di KIM (Korea).

Women’s -48 kg. Category: The first Gold for Belgium:

In the first semifinal the Bronze medalist at European Championships 2010, Charline VAN SNICK (Belgium) won the fight against the young Japanese judoka Miri TODA, after two shido. In the second semifinal, Oiana BLANCO (Spain), Silver at World Championships 2009, won against Bo KYEONG (Korea), by ippon after a pinning (kuzure-kamishiho gatame), after the Golden Score. The final offered a very tight contest. After two minutes of spectacular attacks and counterattacks, Charline VAN SNICK (Belgium) won by ippon, with her favorite technique, strangulation (okurierijime) against the European vice Champion Oiana BLANCO (Spain) and got the Gold medal of the JUDO GRAND PRIX Qingdao 2011, at women -48 kg.Category.

Semifinals: Charline VAN SNICK (Belgium) won against Miri TODA (Japan) and Oiana BLANCO (Spain) won against Bo KYEONG (Korea).

The bronze medals were won by Miri TODA (Japan) and Bo KYEONG (Koreea).

Final: Charline VAN SNICK (Belgium) won against Oiana BLANCO (Spain), by ippon.

Final Ranking: 1. Charline VAN SNICK (Belgium), 2. Oiana BLANCO (Spain), 3. Miri TODA (Japon), 3. Bo KYEONG (Korea), 

5. Elena MORETT I(Italy), 5. Sumeyya AKKUS (Turkey), 5. Laetitia PAYET (France), 5. Shishi XIE (China)

Men’s -60 kg. Category: The favorite

ZANTARAIA won in the final:

In the first semifinal, Georgii ZANTARAIA (Ukraine), Gold at the World Championships 2010, won against the young French judoka Issam NOUR, who got a red card, after an illegal technique. In the other semifinal, Naohisa TAKATO (Japan) won by ippon, after a judo spectacular throwing (ouchigari), against Yeldos SMETOV (Kazakhstan). In the final, the two athletes offered a very tense fight, with many spectacular techniques. Finally, the World Champion 2010, Georgii ZANTARAIA (Ukraine), won by ippon, after a throwing technique (soto makikomi) and won the contest against the young Japanese judoka Naohisa TAKATO.

Semifinals: Georgii ZANTARAIA (Ukraine) won against the Issam NOUR (France) and Naohisa TAKATO (Japan) won by ippon against Yeldos SMETOV (Kazakhstan). The bronze medals were won by Yeldos SMETOV (Kazakhstan) and Issam NOUR (France).

Final: Georgii ZANTARAIA (Ukraine) won by ippon against Naohisa TAKATO (Japan).

Final Ranking: 1. Georgii ZANTARAIA (Ukraine), 2. Naohisa TAKATO (Japan), 3. Issam NOUR (France), 3. Yeldos SMETOV (Kazakhstan), 5. Tobias ENGLMAIER (Germany), 5. Lamusi A (China), 5. Sofiane MILOUS (France), 5. Pavel PETRIKOV (Czech Rep)

Women’s -52 kg. Category: Red card in the final!

In the first semifinal, Erika MIRANDA (Brazil), number 7 in IJF ranking, lost by ippon, after hantei decision, against Bundmaa MUNKHBATAAR (Mongolia), Bronze at the World Championships 2010, after Golden Score. In the second semifinal, the Silver medalist at the Olympic Games 2008, Ae Kum AN (PR Korea) won by ippon, after an throwing technique (kosoto gari) against Yuki HASHIMOTO (Japan).

In the final, after a very exiting fight, at the half of the regular time, the Bronze medalist at the World Championships 2010, Bundmaa MUNKHBATAAR (Mongolia) won, after a referee decision, who considered an illegal leg technique, applied by the Silver medalist at the Olympic Games 2008, Ae Kum AN (PR Korea).

Semifinals: Erika MIRANDA (Brazil) lost against Bundmaa MUNKHBATAAR (Mongolia) and Ae Kum AN (PR Korea) won by ippon against Yuki HASHIMOTO (Japan). The bronze medals were won by Erika MIRANDA (Brazil) and Yuki HASHIMOTO (Japan)

Final: Bundmaa MUNKHBATAAR (Mongolia) won against Ae Kum AN (PR Korea).

Final Ranking: 1. Bundmaa MUNKHBATAAR (Mongolia), 2. Ae Kum AN (PR Korea), 3. Erika MIRANDA (Brazil), 3. Yuki HASHIMOTO (Japan), 5. Hongmai HE (China), 5. Priscilla GNETO (France), 5. Laura GOMEZ (Spain), 5. Saraya HADDAD (Algeria)

Men’s -66 kg. Category: Gadanov got the Gold:

In the first semifinal, Alim GADANOV (Russia) won against Serhiy DREBOT (Ukraine), by yuko, after a throwing technique (kouchi gari), in Golden Score. In the other semifinal, Dimitri DRAGIN (France), Bronze at the World Championships 2006, lost against Tomasz KOWALSKI (Poland). The Men -66 kg. Category final offered another tense fight.

The two athletes provided spectacular techniques, during the five minutes of the contest. Finally, the favorite, the actual number 4 in IJF ranking, Alim GADANOV (Russia) won, after a throwing technique (kosoto gari) against the Tomasz KOWALSKI (Poland), Silver medalist at the European Championships 2010.

Semifinals: Alim GADANOV (Russia) won against Serhiy DREBOT (Ukraine) and Tomasz KOWALSKI (Poland) won against Dimitri DRAGIN (France). The bronze medals were won by Serhiy DREBOT (Ukraine) and Dimitri DRAGIN (France).

Final: Alim GADANOV (Russia) won by ippon against Tomasz KOWALSKI (Poland).

Final Ranking: 1. Alim GADANOV (Russia), 2. Tomasz KOWALSKI (Poland), 3. Dimitri DRAGIN (France), 3. Serhiy DREBOT (Ukraine), 5. Dan FASIE (Romania), 5. Kuk Hyon HONG (PR Korea), 5. Pierre DUPRAT (France), 5. Francesco FARALDO (Italy).

Women’s -57 kg. Category: Surprise – the favorite lost the final:

In the first semifinal, the Bronze medalist at the World Championships 2010, Ioulietta BOUKOUVALA (Greece) won against Tongjuan LU (China), by ippon, after an arm lock (jyuji gatame). In the second semifinal, Jan-Di KIM (Korea) won against Yang LIU (China). The last fight of the -57 kg. Category was very tight till the end of the five minutes.

The final was lost by the favorite Ioulietta BOUKOUVALA (Greece), the Bronze medalist at the World Championships 2010, after two shido (minor penalties), against Jan-Di KIM (Korea), the number 8 in the IJF ranking.

Semifinals: Ioulietta BOUKOUVALA (Greece) won against Tongjuan LU (China); Jan-Di KIM (Korea) won against Yang LIU (China).

The bronze medals were won by Tongjuan LU (China) and Yang LIU (China).

Final: Jan-Di KIM (Korea) won against Ioulietta BOUKOUVALA (Greece).

Final Ranking: 1. Jan-Di KIM (Korea), 2. Ioulietta BOUKOUVALA (Greece), 3. Yang LIU (China), 3. Tongjuan LU (China), 5. Battuga TUMEN-OD (Mongolia), 5. Marti MALLOY (USA), 5. Sumiya DORJSUREN (Mongolia), 5. Juul FRANSSEN (Netherland).