The final day of the final staging of the Qingdao Judo Grand Prix before it moves to Hohhot in Inner Mongolia next year, took place on Sunday with five gold medals for the…
ADVERTISEMENTThe final day of the final staging of the Qingdao Judo Grand Prix before it moves to Hohhot in Inner Mongolia next year, took place on Sunday with five gold medals for the taking.
The Russian national anthem has been played quite a lot this edition and it was blasted out over the speakers once more on the last day.
That was as a result of four-time world medallist Kirill Denisov’s victory in the -100 kilo category.
Denisov, in his first outing since stepping up to this weight category from the -90 kilo class, defeated Samsun Grand Prix bronze medallist Tsogtgerel Khutag from Mongolia.
A stunning ippon sealed the deal after just 29 seconds.
Glasgow European Open winner Max Stewart of Great Britain turned up at Quindao as the number one seed at an IJF World Judo Tour event for the first time in his career.
And the 23-year-old honoured that status by winning the -90 kilo title.
He beat Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix silver medallist Altanbagana Gantulga of Mongolia.
Stewart’s gold came courtesy of a shime-waza immobilization technique.
In the men’s heavyweight +100 kilo division, Japanese judoka Yusei Ogawa continues to emerge from the shadow of his four-time world championship gold medal winning father when he triumphed in Quindao.
Ogawa struck gold when he overpowered fellow youngster Anton Krivobokov from Russia with a strangle hold.
Tyumen Grand Slam winner Rika Takayama continued Japan’s fine showing on the east coast of China.
She defeated home hope Kaili Zhang to win her first judo Grand prix gold medal.
Takayama dominated the final and won through courtesy of a holding technique that finished with an arm lock.
The final of the women’s +78 kilo division was the one everyone in Quindao wanted to see.
World champion Yu Song against fellow Chinese Judoka Ma Sisi.
In the end it was YU who claimed the home tatami bragging rights defeating her compatriot with an ippon with just 90 seconds left on the clock.
With the win Yu will overtake Idalys Ortiz at the top of the world rankings.