Dutch sensation Noel Van T. End kept his composure to outclass Israel’s Alon Sasson in the final of the under 90 kilo category at the Judo Grand Prix in Qingdao on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENTAfter losing in three major finals this year, the top seed dominated his opponent from the outset and triumphed with an early waza-ari while Martin Pacek was unstoppable in the under 100 kilo class.
The Swede, who was up against Karl-Richard Frey in the showpiece match, overcame two penalties to take the gold medal thanks to a well taken o-uchi-gari.
In the over 100 kilo category, Japan’s Hisayoshi Harasawa made light work of Mongolia’s Junior world champion Duurenbayar Ulziibayar.
The Tokyo Grand Slam bronze medallist prevailed thanks to a terrific uchi-mata for ippon with just 15 seconds on the clock.
In the women’s event, Kyong Sol produced a late Shime-Waza to beat Guusje Steenhuis of the Netherlands in the final.
The bronze medals were won by Germany’s Kerstin Thiele and Japan’s Mami Umeki.