Jeju – Korea, Nov 28, 2014: The Korean faithful saw the women’s -78kg and +78kg categories and the men’s -90kg, -100kg and +100kg categories compete for the remaining five gold medals.
After a gruelling year on the IJF World Judo Tour, the finest judoka in the world will have one last outing next week in Japan as the Tokyo Grand Slam brings the years to a close.
The Tokyo Grand Slam takes place from 5-7 December at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium and fans can watch all the action live at www.ippon.tv
Hosts South Korea starred throughout the second edition of their home Grand Prix. The powerhouse judo nation won six gold medals, three silver and five bronze to finish ahead of a star-laden French team who won six gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
WOMEN: -78kg: TCHEUMEO prevails for France
World silver medallist and Olympic bronze medallist Audrey TCHEUMEO (FRA) chalked up a richly-deserved victory in Jeju as she claimed gold by defeating Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Luise MALZAHN (GER). World number four MALZAHN twice with the latter indiscretion coming for stepping out of the area which TCHEUMEO was also called up on. Neither judoka could register a score as two of the leading judoka in the category contested a competitive contest.
In the first semi-final TCHEUMEO defeated Olympic champion Kayla HARRISON (USA) to secure a place in the final. In their five previous meetings, HARRISON had won two, with their last meeting coming at the 2011 World Championships when the Frenchwoman won a semi-final on her way to gold. TCHEUMEO and HARRISON traded shido penalties before TCHEUMEO seized the initiative with a yuko and held on to take a narrow win.
In the second semi-final MALZAHN bested African Championships silver medallist Sarah Myriam MAZOUZ (GAB). The German wasted little time in guaranteeing herself a medal as she scored a yuko immediately before putting the Gabon judoka away with an osoto-makikomi for ippon.
The first bronze medal was won by 2013 Jeju Grand Prix bronze medallist CHOI Mi-Young (KOR) as the impressive MAZOUZ was unable to win her country’s first medal on the IJF World Judo Tour. The host nation added one more medal to their haul as CHOI submitted her opponent with a koshi-jime. The second bronze medal contest was won by HARRISON who outperformed former Moscow Grand Slam bronze medallist Vera MOSKALYUK (RUS). HARRISON initiated a ouchi-gari attack which set her opponent off balance and the American followed through with upper body control to drive the Russian over for a waza-ari.
Final Results
1. TCHEUMEO, Audrey (FRA). 2. MALZAHN, Luise (GER). 3. CHOI, Mi-Young (KOR). 3. HARRISON, Kayla (USA). 5. MAZOUZ, Sarah Myriam (GAB). 5. MOSKALYUK, Vera (RUS). 7. PORTUONDO ISASI, Ana Laura (CAN). 7. LEE, Jeongyun (KOR)
+78kg: KIM wins all-Korean final
Former Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist KIM Jiyoun (KOR) earned more gold for the high-flying hosts as she saw off teammate Taipei Asian Open bronze medallist LEE Eun-Ju (KOR) who added a silver medal to their collection. LEE was penalised three times while her colleague was penalised only once in a contest which proved just how well the heavyweights knew each other’s skillset and capacity.
In the first semi-final LEE defeated World bronze medallist Emilie ANDEOL (FRA) on shido penalties while in the second semi-final KIM defeated Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Iryna KINDZERSKA (UKR) by a yuko.
The first bronze medal was won by KINDZERSKA against TAKIGAWA Mao (JPN). The latter was penalised with a shido for passivity before falling behind to a waza-ari from a harai-makikomi. KINDZERSKA applied the osaekomi for 15 seconds to win by wazari-awasette-ippon. The second bronze medal was clinched by ANDEOL who bested Abu Dhabi Grand Slam silver medallist Franziska KONITZ (GER) in a scoreless bout. KONITZ was penalised with a shido for passivity before her opponent was penalised for going out of the area. With everything to fight for with 30 seconds to go, KONITZ was penalised for going out of the area and that proved the difference after four minutes of engrossing action.
Final Results
1. KIM, Jiyoun (KOR). 2. LEE, Eun-Ju (KOR). 3. KINDZERSKA, Iryna (UKR). 3. ANDEOL, Emilie (FRA). 5. TAKIGAWA, Mao (JPN)
5. KONITZ, Franziska (GER). 7. SOKOLOVA, Nataly (RUS). 7. PARK, Da-Eun (KOR)
MEN: -90kg: GWAK does it again for the hosts:
GWAK Dong Han (KOR) won Jeju Grand Prix gold for the second year in a row as he bested Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Mammadali MEHDIYEV (AZE) in the -90kg final. Korea’s -90kg hope duly delivered once again as he went ahead with a waza-ari from an osoto-gari before bring the crowd to their feet with a morote-eri-seoi-nage for ippon.
In the first semi-final MEHDIYEV conquered 20-year-old Junior World Team Championships bronze medallist KIM Jae Yun (KOR) by ippon after 32 seconds. In the second semi-final GWAK dismissed former Junior World Championships bronze medallist Ramin GURBANOV (AZE) by ippon with eight seconds remaining.
The first bronze medal was awarded to beaten semi-finalist GURBANOV who threw London European Open winner David RUIZ ZAJAC (ESP) with an uchi-mata for a yuko score. The Spaniard probed his opponent but was unable to penetrate the scorecard because of the robust defence from his opponent. The second bronze medal was captured by Paris Grand Slam winner LEE Kyu-Won (KOR) as teammate KIM was penalised twice in a scoreless contest. LEE, who is best known for winning world gold in 2009, asserted himself with greater effect to edge out his Korean colleague and ensure a place alongside GWAK on the -90kg podium.
Final Results
1. GWAK, Dong Han (KOR). 2. MEHDIYEV, Mammadali (AZE). 3. GURBANOV, Ramin (AZE). 3. LEE, Kyu-Won (KOR). 5. RUIZ ZAJAC, David (ESP). 5. KIM, Jae Yun (KOR). 7. GROSSKLAUS, Ciril (SUI). 7. NHABALI, Quedjau (UKR)
-100kg: CHO chalks up home victory
Asian Games bronze medallist CHO Guham (KOR) steered his country to the top of the podium once again as Beijing Olympic champion NAIDAN Tuvshinbayar (MGL) was upstaged by the younger Asian fighter. CHO, 22, a former heavyweight who moved down a category in the summer, proved too tricky for NAIDAN who was been there and done it all in judo. NAIDAN was penalised repeatedly for false attacks and negative gripping before being penalised for a fourth and final time for passivity to receive hansoku-make.
In the first semi-final CHO defeated another emerging -100kg fighter in Havana Grand Prix winner Toma NIKIFOROV (BEL) by ippon. In the second semi-final Olympic and Qingdao Grand Prix bronze medallist Dimitri PETERS (GER) fell to NAIDAN by a yuko score.
The first bronze medal was won by PETERS who scored a yuko against little-known WON Jonghoon (KOR) before showing his ability on the ground as he locked on the juji-gatame to force the home judoka to submit. The second bronze medal was won by NIKIFOROV who saw off Tokyo Grand Slam silver medallist Kyle REYES (CAN) in a contest between two of the most talented young judoka in the category. NIKIFOROV countered an ouchi-gari for yuko before adding a second yuko and shutting out his Canadian foe for the remainder of the contest.
Final Result
1. CHO, Guham (KOR). 2. NAIDAN, Tuvshinbayar (MGL). 3. PETERS, Dimitri (GER). 3. NIKIFOROV, Toma (BEL). 5. WON, Jonghoon (KOR)
5. REYES, Kyle (CAN). 7. ERDENEBILEG, Enkhbat (MGL). 7. ORLIK, Flavio (SUI)
+100kg: French legend RINER adds to legacy in Jeju
Olympic champion and seven-time world champion Teddy RINER (FRA) eased to victory in the heavyweight category and the last final of the day on Saturday. RINER defeated number two seed KIM Sung-Min (KOR) who was unwilling to engage with the French legend and paid the price as he received four shido penalties. RINER earns 300 points for gold but remains second on the World Ranking List 40 points behind Rafael SILVA (BRA) who competes next week in Tokyo.
In the first semi-final RINER, who is undefeated since 2010, swept past Abu Dhabi Grand Slam silver medallist Vladut SIMIONESCU (ROU) with little resistance. RINER scored waza-ari with an ouchi-gari on the edge of the area and added a second waza-ari to take his anticipated place in the final. In the second semi-final 2011 world bronze medallist KIM saw off Abu Dhabi Grand Maciej SARNACKI (POL). The Korean produced a waza-ari from a harai-makikomi and the Polish fighter was unable to continue due to injury.
The first bronze medal went to SARNACKI defeated Lisbon European Open silver medallist Sergey KESAEV (RUS) who come from behind to claim a place on the podium. SARNACKI trailed by a waza-ari until KESAEV lost his footing and was held down for 20 seconds to lose by ippon. The second bronze medal went SIMIONESCU who beat Tashkent Grand Prix winner BATTULGA Temuulen (MGL) by ippon with one minute and 27 seconds left on the clock.
Final Result
1. RINER, Teddy (FRA). 2. KIM, Sung-Min (KOR). 3. SARNACKI, Maciej (POL). 3. SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU). 5. BATTULGA, Temuulen (MGL). 5. KESAEV, Sergey (RUS). 7. KOKAURI, Ushangi (AZE). 7. BONDARENKO, Stanislav (UKR). —- Photos © IJF Media by G. Sabau & J. Willingham
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