JUDO NEWS DAY 2: Judo Grand Slam, Tokyo 2013 [PLUS VIDEO FOOTAGE OF FINALS]

IJF News - November 30th, 2013

The Judo Grand Slam, Tokyo 2013, continued with the second day of the competition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday.

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Judo Grand Slam Tokyo 2013: Day 2 Final Block

Judo Grand Slam Tokyo 2013: Day 2

The Japanese crowd saw four weight categories take to the tatami in search of Grand Slam honours as the women’s -63kg and -70kg categories and men’s-73kg and -81kg categories were all in action.

Ahead of the final block on day two, delegates from the All Japan Judo Federation and the International Judo Federation took part in a press conference.

Mr. YAMASHITA Yasuhiro, All Japan Judo Federation Vice President, said: “I would like to thank the International Judo Federation for their continued support and assistance in stage our Grand Slam. It is a very popular competition and we are always pleased to receive any competitors and countries.

Press conference with delegates from the IJF and All Japan Judo Federation

“It is a very important time for us now with Tokyo staging the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and we ask all judoka, media and organisations to work with us to develop the image and profile of judo in this country.”

Mr. Marius VIZER, IJF President, said: “I am very pleased to be here for the occasion of the Tokyo Grand Slam, our final Grand Slam of the year. This is one of the biggest and most important events of the year and I would like to thank the All Japan Judo Federation for their activity and strong collaboration with the IJF.

“We are always looking to make judo a more exciting sport which is easy to follow. We make adjustments to the rules to improve the sport, to improve judo as a product for the television audience. Judo moved up a classification in the Olympic groups and we must continue to develop and aim for an greater presence.”

Before the final block started with the bronze medal contests, the All Japan Judo Federation treated the crowd to a kata demonstration as the leading nation in the discipline.

FOLLOW THE COMPETITION

The draw can be seen at: http://www.ippon.org/gs_jpn2013.php
Live stream on Ippon TV: http://www.ippon.tv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ijudo
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/IntJudoFed
Official event hash tag: #JudoTokyo2013
Instagram: http://instagram.com/judogallery
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/judo

WOMEN

-63kg: World Judo Masters winner ABE prevails in all-Japanese final

World Judo Masters winner and world number four ABE Kana (JPN) defeated teammate TASHIRO Miku (JPN) as Japan picked up from where they finished day one with a gold medal triumph. ABE gained a slender advantage when former Junior World Championships winner TASHIRO received a shido for passivity after both judoka had already been penalised for the same indiscretion. 19-year-old TASHIRO failed to change her tactics and received a third shido which was one more than ABE received after the latter picked up only one more for passivity.

ABE booked her place in the final by defeating World Judo Masters bronze medallist JOUNG Da-Woon (KOR) with a beautiful uchi-mata which earned ippon with 90 seconds remaining. The Japanese had judoka opened the scoring with a waza-ari from a ko-uchi-gari. In the second semi-final TASHIRO bested Anne-Laure BELLARD (FRA) who received a direct hansoku-make for attempting a standing waki-gatame. The first bronze medal was won by JOUNG who recovered from her semi-final defeat to outperform Tashkent Grand Prix winner Mariana BARROS (BRA) after the Brazilian accumulated four shido penalties for passivity to receive hansoku-make. The second bronze medal was claimed by Miami Grand Prix silver medallist TANAKA Miki (JPN) as BELLARD could not fight due to an injury sustained in her unsuccessful semi-final effort.

Final
TASHIRO, Miku (JPN) vs ABE, Kana (JPN)

Bronze Medal Fights

BARROS, Mariana (BRA) vs JOUNG, Da-Woon (KOR)
TANAKA, Miki (JPN) vs BELLARD, Anne-Laure (FRA)

Final Results

1. ABE, Kana (JPN)
2. TASHIRO Miku (JPN)
3. JOUNG, Da-Woon (KOR)
3. TANAKA, Miki (JPN)
5. BARROS, Mariana (BRA)
5. BELLARD, Anne-Laure (FRA)
7. VAN EMDEN, Anicka (NED)
7. CAMPOS, Katherine (BRA)

-70kg: Junior ace ARAI conquers world number one

Junior World Championships silver medallist ARAI Chizuru (JPN) halted the world number one Kim POLLING (NED) with a measured performance in he -70kg final. ARAI made a statement after just 15 seconds as she scored a yuko from an uchi-mata which received a roar of approval from the home fans. The 20-year-old, who captured a career-best silver at the Moscow Grand Slam in July, was penalised with a shido for passivity at the hallway mark and shortly after received two further penalties also for passivity. That was enough for ARAI who produced a burst of energy in the closing seconds to attack the Dutch star and wrapped her up in ne-waza to see out the remaining time.

ARAI sealed her place in the final by defeating world champion Yuri ALVEAR (COL) with a kesa-gatame for ippon after going ahead with a yuko from a ko-soto-gari. POLLING won the second semi-final by holding down fellow World Championships bronze medallist KIM Seongyeon (KOR). The first bronze medal was claimed by London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist ALVEAR as the medal tilt of Miami Grand Prix bronze medallist TACHIMOTO Haruka (JPN) imploded as she lost on shido penalties after being held accountable for passivity on two occasions and once for continually going out of the competition area. The second bronze medal was destined for South Korea, who will host the next World Judo Tour event in Jeju next week, as KIM boosted their medal tally against Miami Grand Prix winner Iljana MARZOK (GER). The highly-talented German judoka bowed out of the contest after receiving four shido penalties.

Final
POLLING, Kim (NED) vs ARAI, Chizuru (JPN)

Bronze Medal Fights
TACHIMOTO, Haruka (JPN) vs ALVEAR, Yuri (COL)
KIM, Seongyeon (KOR) vs MARZOK, Iljana (GER)

Final Results

1. ARAI, Chizuru (JPN)
2. POLLING, Kim (NED)
3. ALVEAR, Yuri (COL)
3. KIM, Seongyeon (KOR)
5. TACHIMOTO, Haruka (JPN)
5. MARZOK, Iljana (GER)
7. CONWAY, Sally (GBR)
7. GAZIEVA, Irina (RUS)

MEN

-73kg: No match for NAKAYA in Tokyo

Olympic silver medallist and former world champion NAKAYA Riki (JPN) was the star of the day in the -73kg category. The crowd favourite overcome Rijeka Grand Prix winner BANG Gui-Man (KOR) in the final. NAKAYA clinched the gold medal in 71 seconds after a rapid series of exchanges which started with an juji-gatame attempt which was defended by the South Korean but his Japanese rival kept the action flowing as he utilised his full arsenal. NAKAYA switched from yoko-shiho-gatame to kami-shiho-gatame to keep BANG on his back on the tatami for the full 20 seconds.

The Japanese star booked his place in the final by scoring a yuko from a drop seoi-nage and ippon from an osoto-gari at the expense of Moscow Grand Slam runner-up Denis IARTCEV (RUS). In the second semi-final BANG outlasted European champion Rok DRAKSIC (SLO) as the tightly-contested bout was settled in golden score when the latter was penalised for removing his rivals grip with both hands. The first bronze medal was clinched by DRAKSIC who prepared for the competition by training at Yong In University in South Korea. The Slovenian judoka scored a waza-ari from a ko-soto-gake which was the only score registered in the five minute contest. The second bronze medal was won by losing semi-finalist IARTCEV who subdued former world champion KHASHBAATAR Tsagaanbaatar (MGL) with a juji-gatame. Both judoka adopted a low posture and the Russian turned his Mongolian opponent over while holding his arm to lock on the juji-gatame.

Final
NAKAYA, Riki (JPN) vs BANG, Gui-Man (KOR)

Bronze Medal Fights
DUPRAT, Pierre (FRA) vs DRAKSIC, Rok (SLO)
KHASHBAATAR, Tsagaanbaatar (MGL) vs IARTCEV, Denis (RUS)

Final Result

1. NAKAYA, Riki (JPN)
2. BANG, Gui-Man (KOR)
3. DRAKSIC, Rok (SLO)
3. IARTCEV, Denis (RUS)
5. DUPRAT, Pierre (FRA)
5. KHASHBAATAR, Tsagaanbaatar (MGL)
7. NAKAMURA, Takenori (JPN)
7. POMBO DA SILVA, Alex William (BRA)

-81kg: NAGASE defeats world champion as Japan's run continues

FISU Universiade winner NAGASE Takanori (JPN) reaffirmed himself as Japan’s front-runner in the -81kg category as he derailed world champion Loic PIETRI (FRA) in the final. NAGASE, 20, won the Kodokan Cup three weeks ago to seal his selection for the Grand Slam and maintained his country’s perfect record by winning Japan’s ninth gold medal from nine categories. Frenchman PIETRI was in devastating form in the preliminary rounds but was consigned to defeat at the final hurdle as he was thrown with a harai-goshi for ippon in the fourth minute.

NAGASE booked his place in the final by defeating former World Judo Masters bronze medallist NAKAI Takahiro (JPN) in an all-Japanese contest. The youngster scored a waza-ari from an uchi-mata and won with a kuzure-kesa-gatame hold to send his teammate into the repechage. In the second semi-final PIETRI stormed past Tashkent Grand Prix winner Travis STEVENS (USA) with a standing ippon seoi-nage after just 40 seconds. The first bronze medal was won by world number one Avtandili TCHRIKISHVILI who defeated STEVENS by ippon with a uchi-mata (USA) after 30 seconds. The second bronze medal was captured by NAKAI who registered a dramatic come-from-behind win against Asian Championships winner HONG Suk Woong (KOR). NAKAI trailed by two yuko scores but worked his way back into the contest and restored parity with two yuko scores of his own with the second coming from a ura-nage counter. The comeback was complete when the Japanese fighter held HONG down with a yoko-shiho-gatame for ippon.

Final
NAGASE, Takanori (JPN) vs PIETRI, Loic (FRA)

Bronze Medal Fights

TCHRIKISHVILI, Avtandili (GEO) vs STEVENS, Travis (USA)
NAKAI, Takahiro (JPN) vs HONG, Suk Woong (KOR)

Final Result

1. NAGASE, Takanori (JPN)
2. PIETRI, Loic (FRA)
3. TCHRIKISHVILI, Avtandili (GEO)
3. NAKAI, Takahiro (JPN)
5. STEVENS, Travis (USA)
5. HONG, Suk Woong (KOR)
7. MRVALJEVIC, Srdjan (MNE)
7. NAGASHIMA, Keita (JPN)