The International Judo Grand Slam has concluded in the Russian city of Tyumen. In the men’s under 81 kg category, Russia’s Ivan Vorobev, fighting
ADVERTISEMENTThe International Judo Grand Slam has concluded in the Russian city of Tyumen.
In the men’s under 81 kg category, Russia’s Ivan Vorobev, fighting in his home town, beat Olympic bronze medallist Antoine Valois Fortier from Canada.
Japanese judoka Mashu Baker won back-to-back Grand Slams for the first time in his career after he saw off Magomed Magomedov from Russia in the under 90kg category. Baker scored a yuko with an ouchi-gari and absorbed every attack from his opponent.
Martin Pacek from Sweden won the country’s first Grand Slam gold medal by beating Latvia’s Jevgenijs Borodavko in the under 100kg final. World number 11 Pacek scored an ouchi-gari with a yuko that proved decisive in the battle.
Meanwhile, in the women’s event Haruka Tachimoto saw off Israel’s Linda Bolder in the under 70kg category after she threw an uchi-mata for ippon with 90 seconds remaining.
European Games bronze medallist Guusje Steenhuis topped the podium in the under 78kg final as she beat Ruika Sato from Japan who failed a tai-otoshi attempt along and picked up shido penalties.
Sisi Ma made her Grand Slam breakthrough in the best style possible as she claimed heavyweight gold. The Chinese judoka was too strong for Nami Inamori from Japan despite a powerful start. Inamori pressed with a left-sided drop seoi-nage effort, but it took three minutes and 58 seconds for the deadlock to be dramatically broken as Ma scored a yuko to capture the gold.