-78kg: Germany’s WAGNER records first IJF World Judo Tour win
Düsseldorf Grand Slam silver medallist Anna Maria WAGNER (GER) edged out Tel Aviv Grand Prix silver medallist Loriana KUKA (KOS) to win the -78kg gold medal. WAGNER secured her first IJF gold after taking silver at her home Grand Slam last month. A single waza-ari score was the difference as the uchi-mata of the German judoka once again proved to be effective for the world number 13.
In the first semi-final Grand Prix specialist Luise MALZAHN (GER) fell to KUKA by a waza-ari score from a ko-uchi-gari after 47 seconds of golden score. In the second semi-final WAGNER defeated Junior World Championships bronze medallist Patricia SAMPAIO (POR) by ippon with her trademark uchi-mata.
The first bronze medal contest was won by Portuguese prospect SAMPAIO who defeated Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Bernadette GRAF (AUT) with a ko-soto-gake for ippon after 48 seconds.
The second bronze medal was won by MALZAHN who dismissed Tunis Grand Prix silver medallist Karen STEVENSON (NED) with an o-soto-makikomi for ippon. Germany’s MALZAHN claimed her 20th Grand Prix medal which is a record on the IJF World Judo Tour.
Final KUKA, Loriana (KOS) vs WAGNER, Anna Maria (GER)
Bronze Medal Fights GRAF, Bernadette (AUT) vs SAMPAIO, Patricia (POR) MALZAHN, Luise (GER) vs STEVENSON, Karen (NED)
Final Results
1. WAGNER, Anna Maria (GER) 2. KUKA, Loriana (KOS) 3. SAMPAIO, Patricia (POR) 3. MALZAHN, Luise (GER) 5. GRAF, Bernadette (AUT) 5. STEVENSON, Karen (NED) 7. LUCASSEN, Ilona (NED) 7. RAMIREZ, Yahima (POR)
+78kg: Turkish delight for SAYIT who triumphs ahead of home Grand Prix in Antalya
World Championships bronze medallist Kayra SAYIT (TUR) won her fourth Grand Prix title for Turkey with an impressive display in the women’s heavyweight category. SAYIT threw one-time Grand Prix winner Tessie SAVELKOULS (NED) for a waza-ari score and will expect to break into the world’s top 10 with the prospect of a home Grand Prix coming up next month in Antalya.
In the first semi-final SAVELKOULS defeated Openweight World Championships bronze medallist Nihel CHEIKH ROUHOU (TUN) by ippon while in the second semi-final SAYIT bested The Hague Grand Prix silver medallist Hortence Vanessa MBALLA ATANGANA (CMR) by the maximum score.
The first bronze medal was awarded to world number 25 MBALLA ATANGANA who saw off Tbilisi Grand Prix bronze medallist Sandra JABLONSKYTE (LTU) by a waza-ari score. Cameroon’s talented heavyweight earned her second Grand Prix medal with a makikomi counter and will now move towards an Olympic qualification position.
The second bronze medal was won by CHEIKH ROUHOU who sent former Grand Slam bronze medallist Sarah ADLINGTON (GBR) partially over for a waza-ari score and followed up with osaekomi-waza in a one-sided contest.
Final SAYIT, Kayra (TUR) vs SAVELKOULS, Tessie (NED)
Bronze Medal Fights MBALLA ATANGANA, Hortence Vanessa (CMR) vs JABLONSKYTE, Sandra (LTU) CHEIKH ROUHOU, Nihel (TUN) vs ADLINGTON, Sarah (GBR)
Final Results
1. SAYIT, Kayra (TUR) 2. SAVELKOULS, Tessie (NED) 3. MBALLA ATANGANA, Hortence Vanessa (CMR) 3. CHEIKH ROUHOU, Nihel (TUN) 5. JABLONSKYTE, Sandra (LTU) 5. ADLINGTON, Sarah (GBR) 7. CUTRO-KELLY, Nina (USA) 7. HERSHKO, Raz (ISR)
FINAL RESULTS: MEN
-90kg: Serbia's former world champion MAJDOV savours first Grand Prix victory
Former world champion Nemanja MAJDOV (SRB) had the measure of Osaka Grand Slam bronze medallist Eduard TRIPPEL (GER) in a closely fought -90kg final on day three in Marrakech. Both men were without a Grand Prix gold medal before today and it was the Serbian who registered in the win column today after scoring a waza-ari without reply.
In the first semi-final MAJDOV defeated former Junior European Championships winner Aurelien DIESSE (FRA) by ippon with 53 seconds left from a front uchi-mata. In the second semi-final TRIPPEL sent world number 124 Tomasz SZCZEPANIAK (POL) over for ippon with a hip throw to take his place in the final.
The first bronze medal was won by Agadir Grand Prix bronze medallist Quedjau NHABALI (UKR) who eased past SZCZEPANIAK. Ukraine earned their second medal of the competition when NHABALI performed a low uchi-mata having led from a sumi-gaeshi.
The second bronze medal went to former Junior World Championships silver medallist Robert FLORENTINO (DOM) who dispatched DIESSE after 35 seconds by ippon to become his country’s first male medallist on the IJF World Judo Tour.
Final
TRIPPEL, Eduard (GER) vs MAJDOV, Nemanja (SRB)
Bronze Medal Fights SZCZEPANIAK, Tomasz (POL) vs NHABALI, Quedjau (UKR) DIESSE, Aurelien (FRA) vs FLORENTINO, Robert (DOM)
Final Results
1. MAJDOV, Nemanja (SRB) 2. TRIPPEL, Eduard (GER) 3. NHABALI, Quedjau (UKR) 3. FLORENTINO, Robert (DOM) 5. SZCZEPANIAK, Tomasz (POL) 5. DIESSE, Aurelien (FRA) 7. PAPUNASHVILI, Giorgi (GEO) 7. KUUSIK, Mattias (EST)
-100kg: Irish eyes are smiling as FLETCHER finishes with gold
Tel Aviv Grand Prix silver medallist Benjamin FLETCHER (IRL) clinched his country’s second Grand Prix gold medal with a hard-fought win over Openweight World Championships silver medallist Toma NIKIFOROV (BEL) in the -100kg final. FLETCHER, who struck for Ireland at the Tunis Grand Prix last year, defeated the European champion after 52 seconds of golden score by countering an ambitious sasae attempt. The FLETCHER household claimed two medals in Morocco as Ben’s older sister Megan won a career-best silver medal on Saturday.
In the first semi-final FLETCHER conquered Tel Aviv Grand Prix bronze medallist Grigori MINASKIN (EST) by a waza-ari score from a harai-makikomi. In the second semi-final Tel Aviv Grand Prix bronze medallist Kayhan OZCICEK-TAKAGI (AUS) was penalised for passivity after 71 seconds of golden score against NIKIFOROV (BEL) and was disqualified for his third indiscretion.
The first bronze medal was won by world number 72 OZCICEK-TAKAGI to sustain his rich run of form with back-to-back Grand Prix medals in 2019. World number 97 Aibek SERIKBAYEV (KAZ) attempted a uchi-mata but was countered by the long-time member of the Japanese national team and former All Japan Championships winner.
The second bronze medal went to former Asian Championships bronze medallist Mukhammadkarim KHURRAMOV (UZB) who beat MINASKIN by ippon with a modified kata-guruma after only 51 seconds.
Final NIKIFOROV, Toma (BEL) vs FLETCHER, Benjamin (IRL)
Bronze Medal Fights OZCICEK-TAKAGI, Kayhan (AUS) vs SERIKBAYEV, Aibek (KAZ) MINASKIN, Grigori (EST) vs KHURRAMOV, Mukhammadkarim (UZB)
Final Results
1. FLETCHER, Benjamin (IRL) 2. NIKIFOROV, Toma (BEL) 3. OZCICEK-TAKAGI, Kayhan (AUS) 3. KHURRAMOV, Mukhammadkarim (UZB) 5. SERIKBAYEV, Aibek (KAZ) 5. MINASKIN, Grigori (EST) 7. REMARENCO, Ivan (UAE) 7. ELNAHAS, Shady (CAN)
+100kg: First Grand Prix success for Germany’s HEINLE
World number 55 Sven HEINLE (GER) was the last man standing in the men’s heavyweight category as he defeated Tashkent Grand Prix bronze medallist Yerassyl KAZHYBAYEV (KAZ) in the last contest at the inaugural edition of the Marrakech Grand Prix. HEINLE broke the deadlock with a waza-ari score and moved quickly to trap his Kazakh rival in osaekomi for his country’s second gold medal on day three.
In the first semi-final The Hague Grand Prix silver medallist Vladut SIMIONESCU (ROU) was surprised by KAZHYBAYEV by ippon. In the second semi-final Rome European Open silver medallist Andrii KOLESNYK (UKR) lost out to HEINLE by a waza-ari score.
The first bronze medal was won by KOLESNYK who powered past Junior European Championships bronze medallist Enej MARINIC (SLO) by ippon from a harai-goshi to earn his first medal on the IJF circuit.
The second bronze medal went to former Junior World Championships bronze medallist Temur RAKHIMOV (TJK) after top seed SIMIONESCU tamely surrendered with his third shido being given for passivity.
Final KAZHYBAYEV, Yerassyl (KAZ) vs HEINLE, Sven (GER)
Bronze Medal Fights KOLESNYK, Andrii (UKR) vs MARINIC, Enej (SLO) SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU) vs RAKHIMOV, Temur (TJK)
Final Results
1. HEINLE, Sven (GER) 2. KAZHYBAYEV, Yerassyl (KAZ) 3. KOLESNYK, Andrii (UKR) 3. RAKHIMOV, Temur (TJK) 5. MARINIC, Enej (SLO) 5. SIMIONESCU, Vladut (ROU) 7. NDIAYE, Mbagnick (SEN) 7. JABALLAH, Faicel (TUN)
