On day one of many Tokyo Grand Slam, Japan heard their nationwide anthem performed seven instances for the seven gold medals received within the light-weight classes, nonetheless on day two, the celebrations had been considerably stopped of their tracks. Storming by way of the -100kg class was present European Champion, Matvey KANIKOVSKIY (IJF), a formidable athlete who performs his playing cards near his chest, and even in glory stays respectful.
Coming in because the defending title holder, Kanikovskiy had a goal on his again and was compelled to dig deep to proceed his profitable streak in Tokyo. That being stated, he executed his win in type, particularly the semi closing, the place we noticed a rematch of the 2023 closing towards ARAI Dota (JPN). On this event, Kanikovskiy labored rapidly and scored ippon with one of many greatest ura nage methods seen.
Incomes his place within the closing, he then confronted off the 2022 Tokyo winner, Gennaro PIRELLI (ITA). This contest was a little bit harder, nonetheless Kanikovskiy was the athlete in management, with Pirelli ceding two shidos. Within the final 30 seconds of contest time, the European Champion noticed his alternative in ne waza, claiming the arm and discovering the submission with ude garami.
The podiums had been actually extra populated for the European representatives in the present day; Timur ARBUZOV (IJF) was near the gold medal within the -81kg class, nonetheless was caught with sasae tsurikomi ashi by FUJIWARA Sotaro (JPN) nearly a minute in to golden rating. An analogous ashi waza destiny lay in retailer for Luka MAISURADZE (GEO) who has made his comeback on the IJF World Tour this week, but once more the finalists delved in to golden rating and after dropping to Georgia within the OIympic -90kg closing, MURAO Sanshiro (JPN) was not within the temper to do it in entrance of his house crowd as properly. Defending his 2023 win in Tokyo, he threw with ko soto gari, capitalising on Maisuradze’s error of popping out of an assault.
Prime seeds within the -70kg and -78kg classes had been Lara CVJETKO (CRO) and Olympic bronze medallist, Patricia SAMPAIO (POR), and each athletes completed in bronze medal positions on the rostrum in Tokyo, battling towards a torrent of Japanese expertise. For Cvjetko, her final face to face was towards Giorgia STANGHERLIN (ITA) who was unable to seek out her footing within the bronze medal contest, lead to an accumulation of three shidos. It was an equally powerful contest for Sampaio, nonetheless she managed to attain a booming ippon with 20 seconds left on the clock, beautiful the previous Olympic Champion, HAMADA Shori (JPN) with ko soto gake.
Within the heavyweight classes it was a group of bronze and silver for the IJF representatives; present Junior World Champion, Denis BATCHAEV and a number of Grand Slam medallist, Elis STARTSEVA. For the latter, although she has been amassing medals on the IJF World Tour, this was her first closing, and what a spot to have it! Startseva’s subsequent purpose will after all be the gold medal, however she had a troublesome competitor to handle within the +78kg closing, with ARAI Mao (JPN) who doubled up on her Tokyo wins with todays gold. It was a comparatively fast win for Batchaev, who regarded for his house in ne waza, after driving down with ko soto gari, he utilized the osaekomi towards SONG Woohyeok (KOR), who submitted earlier than the clock ran down.
Japan took the highest place on the medal desk, adopted by the Republic of Korea, then joined by Italy and Georgia within the prime 4.
Judoka
Writer: Thea Cowen
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