Moscow, Russia, July 26, 2013: IRAN, Last Sunday was the second and final day of the absorbing Judo Grand Slam, Moscow 2013, at the Krylatskoe Palace of Sport as the focus of the world’s leading judoka now turns to the World Championships in August.
Seven weight categories were in action as the women’s -70kg, -78kg, +78kg categories and men’s -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg categories all took to the tatami.
As judoka battled to make a late charge up the world ranking list and build momentum towards Rio every category was fiercely contested with a host of Olympic medallists among those in action.
Hosts Russia were a different proposition on day two as they took to the tatami with renewed vigour as their talent-laden ranks looked to stake a claim for a place on the plane to Rio. World Championship hosts Brazil ended the Judo Grand Slam on top of the medal table with an impressive haul of 10 medals which bodes well for their challenge on home soil.
Mr. Juan CARLOS BARCOS, IJF Head Refereeing Director, reflected on the testing phase of the new IJF rules which were first introduced at the Paris Grand Slam in February and explained the next stage of the process as the trial period reaches its conclusion at the World Championships.
“I will make a presentation during the IJF Congress before the World Championships in Rio on behalf of the IJF Executive Committee. I will present detailed statistics from 7,000 fights and we will evaluate the rules after the World Championships which ensures we’ve seen them in operation at every level of the World Judo Tour.
“Feedback from athletes and coaches has been vitally important and we’ve welcomed all input at events such as the Moscow Grand Slam. Mr. Marius L. VIZER, IJF President, will then lead a number of meetings to determine the results. We have received very positive feedback but there is still the opportunity for a number of modifications before full implementation as the Olympic cycle moves towards Rio 2016.”
Mr. Vladimir BARTA, IJF Head Sports Director, shared his thoughts and expectations for the fast approaching World Championships, the next senior event on the World Judo Tour.
“I am looking forward to the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro and what will be a tremendous competition. I was very pleased to see Brazil send a strong team to compete here and that showed in their results. The judo family is looking forward to a great showcase of our sport in Brazil and every judoka will play their part in making it a special event.”
Women: -70kg: GRAF savours first Grand Slam triumph
European Championship bronze medallist Bernadette GRAF (AUT) met Sofia European Open winner ARAI Chizuru (JPN) in the -70kg final in a battle of two of the rising stars in the crowded category. Hard-working GRAF, 21, took the lead against ARAI,19, with a ko-soto-gake earning a yuko which proved enough for the win as the Japanese teenager fell at the final hurdle as she failed to break the Austrian’s stubborn resistance.
The first bronze medal was won by World Judo Masters bronze medallist Linda BOLDER (NED) who prevailed against Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Sally CONWAY (GBR) who herself has become a household name on the World Judo Tour this year. BOLDER countered a ko-uchi-gari attempt from the Briton as she shifted her body to turn CONWAY over for a yuko. The second bronze medal was awarded to top seed Laura VARGAS KOCH (GER) who overcome little-known OSUMI Yuka (JPN) by scoring a yuko with a minute remaining in the contest.
Final Results
1. GRAF, Bernadette (AUT)
2. ARAI, Chizuru (JPN)
3. BOLDER, Linda (NED)
3. VARGAS KOCH, Laura (GER)
5. CONWAY, Sally (GBR)
5. OSUMI, Yuka (JPN)
7. TIMO, Barbara (BRA)
7. GAZIEVA, Irina (RUS)
-78kg: JOO clinches gold with Brazilian breakthrough
World number two Abigel JOO (HUN) secured her first win over arch-rival and Olympic bronze medallist Mayra AGUIAR who sits on top of the -78kg category. After losing all three of their previous meetings JOO was determined to erase the memories of defeats such as the World Judo Masters final. As they went toe-to-toe they traded shido penalties and had accumulated three apiece before JOO rallied and threw a fatigued AGUIAR with a drop seoi-nage for a yuko.
The first bronze medal was awarded to fit-again Gemma GIBBONS (GBR) who marked her return to competition by galvanising her place among the -78kg elite. The Olympic silver medallist, who last graced the World Judo Tour when she took a bronze medal at the Dusseldorf Grand Prix, edged out Lisbon European Open winner Iris LEMMEN (NED) by a yuko. The second bronze medal went to European Championship bronze medallist Marhinde VERKERK (NED) who subdued Miami Grand Prix bronze medallist Natalie POWELL (GBR). VERKERK was sharper in ne-waza as he adjusted to pin POWELL with osaekomi-waza for ippon.
Final Results
1. JOO, Abigel (HUN)
2. AGUIAR, Mayra (BRA)
3. VERKERK, Marhinde (NED)
3. GIBBONS, Gemma (GBR)
5. POWELL, Natalie (GBR)
5. LEMMEN, Iris (NED)
7. TURKS, Victoria (UKR)
7. BATTULGA, Munkhtuya (MGL)
+78kg: ALTHEMAN new world leader with golden showing
World Judo Masters silver medallist Maria Suelen ALTHEMAN (BRA) looks set to enter the World Championships as the world leader in the +78kg category after jumping to pole position with gold in Moscow. Dusseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist YAMABE Kanae (JPN) was second in the final as her misery was brought to an end as ALTHEMAN drove her over for ippon with a harai-makikomi having already received three shido penalties.
The first bronze medal went to Sarah ADLINGTON (GBR) who until today was best known for a fifth-place finish at the Paris Grand Slam last year. ADLINGTON was good value for a place in the bronze medal contest having defeated FISU Universiade winner Rochele NUNES (BRA) in the first stage of repechage. The Briton floored Dusseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Franziska KONITZ (GER) with an osoto-oshi for ippon and the biggest result of her career. The second bronze medal was won by Lisbon European Open silver medallist against FISU Universiade bronze medallist Mariia SHEKEROVA (RUS). As SHEKEROVA stalled she was penalised twice while the German contender only had one shido to her name and sealed the final spot on the +78kg medal podium.
Final Results
1. ALTHEMAN, Maria Suelen (BRA)
2. KUELBS, Jasmin (GER)
3. ADLINGTON, Sarah (GBR)
3. KUELBS, Jasmin (GER)
5. KONITZ, Franziska (GER
5. SHEKEROVA, Mariia (RUS)
7. SHIRAISHI, Nodoka (JPN)
7. NUNES, Rochele (BRA)
Men: -81kg: Moscow specialist MARESCH makes his mark for Germany
Bucharest European Open runner-up Sven MARESCH (GER) repeated his 2011 Moscow success as he won the top prize with victory over Samsun Grand Prix silver medallist Vitalii DUDCHYK (UKR). MARESCH looked every bit the champion in waiting after dispatching world number one Victor PENALBER (BRA) by ippon in a one-sided semi-final with a ko-uchi-gari. With neither judoka wanting to give anything away they traded shido penalties to finish with three each to their name after five minutes. In golden sore DUDCHYK was penalised for the fourth and final time for passivity to seal his fate.
The first bronze medal was won by Samsun Grand Prix bronze medallist Ivan VOROBEV (RUS) who ended a miserable day for world leader PENALBER by throwing him with a ko-soto-gake for ippon half way through the contest. The second bronze medal went to European u23 Championship bronze medallist Stanislav SEMENOV (RUS) who overcome teammate and Tallinn European Open bronze medallist Arsen PSHMAKHOV (RUS). SEMENOV threw PSHMAKHOV with a harai-goshi for ippon to showcase the enviable depth of Russia’s world-renowned team.
Final Results
1. MARESCH, Sven (GER)
2. DUDCHYK, Vitalii (UKR)
3. VOROBEV, Ivan (RUS)
3. SEMENOV, Stanislav (RUS)
5. PENALBER, Victor (BRA)
5. PSHMAKHOV, Arsen (RUS)
7. MUSIL, Jaromir (CZE)
7. ARSLANOV, Shukhratjon (UZB)
-90kg: SULEMIN delivers for Russia
Miami Grand Prix silver medallist Grigorii SULEMIN (RUS) extinguished the hopes of a fairy-tale first international event for Erkin DONIYOROV (UZB). SULEMIN went ahead with a yuko after countering an attack to bundle over the Uzbekistan newcomer. SULEMIN anticipated the attack and swiftly adjusted his body to use the momentum of DONIYOROV against him. That led to an attacking onslaught from the Russian as he was eager to make an impression with the home crowd and Russian officials. To his credit the resilient DONIYOROV was alert to his threat and lost out only by one yuko.
The first bronze medal went to Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Alexandr JURECKA (CZE) who conquered Baku Grand Slam winner Iurii PANASENKOV (RUS) as he scored a second waza-ari with an ouchi-gari for waza-ari-awasette-ippon. The second bronze medal was awarded to Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist KATO Hirotaka (JPN) who brushed aside Zviad GOGOTCHURI (GEO) as he submitted the Georgian with an ude-garami.
Final Results
1. SULEMIN, Grigorii (RUS)
2. DONIYOROV, Erkin (UZB)
3. JURECKA, Alexandr (CZE)
3. KATO, Hirotaka (JPN)
5. PANASENKOV, Iurii (RUS)
5. GOGOTCHURI, Zviad (GEO)
7. GAHRAMANOV, Shahin (AZE)
7. ELMONT, Guillaume (NED)
-100kg: MAHJOUB takes top prize for Iran
Iran standout Javad MAHJOUB (IRI) has won the junior Asian title, senior Asian title and now with his first taste of Grand Slam gold will be ready for an assault on World Championships honours. MAHJOUB, 22, defeated defending Moscow Grand Slam winner Ramziddin SAYIDOV (UZB) who had inflicted a humbling defeat on -90kg world number two Varlam LIPARTELIANI (GEO) with a strangle earlier in the competition. A yuko from an ouchi-gari which was enough for MAHJOUB to win more admirers on the World Judo Tour.
The first bronze medal was won by Olympic bronze medallist Dimitri PETERS (GER) who bested 2012 Moscow Grand Slam bronze medallist Sergei SAMOILOVICH (RUS). PETERS picked up bronze with a second waza-ari from a koshi-guruma giving him waza-ari-awasette-ippon. The second bronze medal was claimed by Maxim RAKOV (KAZ) in a battle of former world champions against Luciano CORREA (BRA). Both judoka showed respect for their adversary’s ability which saw the contest decided by a fourth shido against RAKOV to hand the Brazilian a slender triumph by hansoku-make.
Final Results
1. MAHJOUB, Javad (IRI)
2. SAYIDOV, Ramziddin (UZB)
3. CORREA, Luciano (BRA)
3. PETERS, Dimitri (GER
5. RAKOV, Maxim (KAZ)
5. SAMOILOVICH, Sergei (RUS)
7. MAMMADOV, Elkhan (AZE)
7. OMAROV, Arsen (RUS)
+100kg: German anthem rings out for ZIMMERMAN
Bucharest European Open winner Robert ZIMMERMANN (GER) took the +100kg title as compatriot Andreas TOELZER (GER) was unfortunately forced to pull out from competing in the final by injury. ZIMMERMANN acquitted himself superbly all day long and was a worthy winner having won all his contests by ippon while his elder statesman and Olympic bronze medallist TOELZER, 33, was an anticipated force until being forced out of action.
The first bronze medal was won by Samsun Grand Prix silver medallist Faicel JABALLAH (TUN) who registered a come-from-behind win against All Japan Championship bronze medallist ISHII Ryuta (JPN) who had shocked world number three Adam OKRUASHVILI (GEO) earlier in the day. JABALLAH threw with an osoto-gari for ippon having trailed to a yuko and waza-ari. The second bronze medal went to Iurii KRAKOVETSKII (KGZ) who overwhelmed Junior European champion Levani MATIASHVILI (GEO) who is the latest talent off the infinite Georgian production line. KRAKOVETSKII dug deep to fire his rival over with an uchi-mata for ippon having received a shido moments earlier.
Final Results
1. ZIMMERMANN, Robert (GER)
2. TOELZER, Andreas (GER)
3. KRAKOVETSKII, Iurii (KGZ)
3. JABALLAH, Faicel (TUN)
5. MATIASHVILI, Levani (GEO)
5. ISHII, Ryuta (JPN)
7. SILVA, Rafael (BRA)
7. BOR, Barna (HUN) —- Photos © IJF Media by Tamas Zahonyi
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