Japan's ABE siblings ruled the world for Japan on day two of the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

WOMEN -52kg: Japanese teen ABE Uta wins the senior Worlds at her first attempt

Junior World Championships gold medallist ABE, 18, won -52kg gold on her senior Worlds debut. The Paris Grand Slam winner maintained her unbeaten on the IJF World Judo Tour since 2016 by winning all five of her contests by ippon. ABE, who has now won 29 contests in a row, dethroned defending champion SHISHIME Ai (JPN) in the final with a spectacular ippon after 53 seconds of golden score.

In the first semi-final Amandine BUCHARD (FRA) fell to ABE in just 26 seconds. ABE rushed out to the centre of the mat and attacked immediately and went through several phases before wrapping up a thrilling victory. The Japanese youngster armlocked her French rival for ippon to secure her place in the -52kg gold medal contest.

In the second semi-final four-time world medallist Erika MIRANDA (BRA) was humbled by SHISHIME. The Japanese edged out the Brazilian with the only score of the contest. MIRANDA was caught with a uchi-mata which earned a waza-ari score after 30 seconds and that’s how it stayed.    In the first bronze medal contest MIRANDA submitted world number seven Jessica PEREIRA (BRA) with a koshi-jime strangle after 18 seconds. World Championships newcomer PEREIRA has an uphill task to become Brazil’s number one at the weight on the road to Tokyo 2020 with MIRANDA clearly still in her prime after a fifth World Championships medal (one silver and four bronze).

In the second bronze medal contest BUCHARD defeated London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Charline VAN SNICK (BEL). World number one BUCHARD left the mat in tears after catching her opponent with a yoko-otoshi for a waza-ari score. The high-flying French fighter stopped in her tracks moments after a celebratory embrace with her coach as she let all of her emotions pour out and savoured the moment.

Final SHISHIME, Ai (JPN) vs ABE, Uta (JPN)   

Bronze Medal Fights MIRANDA, Erika (BRA) v PEREIRA, Jessica (BRA)                               BUCHARD, Amandine (FRA) v VAN SNICK, Charline (BEL)  

Semi-Finals BUCHARD, Amandine (FRA) v ABE, Uta (JPN)   MIRANDA, Erika (BRA) v SHISHIME, Ai (JPN)   

Final Results

1. ABE, Uta (JPN)                                                        2. SHISHIME, Ai (JPN)                                                     3. MIRANDA, Erika (BRA)                                            3. BUCHARD, Amandine (FRA)                5. PEREIRA, Jessica (BRA)                                5. VAN SNICK, Charline (BEL)                      7. PRIMO, Gefen (ISR)     7. KUZIUTINA, Natalia (RUS) 

MEN -66kg: ABE Hifumi retains his world crown minutes after watching his sister become world champion

Defending world champion ABE Hifumi (JPN) won the second World Championships gold medal of the day for the ABE household and for team Japan. ABE watched his sister win the -52kg title from the warm up area just minutes before he took his place in the -66kg final. The unique double is one of the most incredible achievements in the history of the World Championships as the poster figures for Tokyo 2020 shared their sublime skills with the world. 

The superstar siblings, who were competing together at a World Championships for the first time, were mobbed by the world’s media in the mixed zone as their achievements have deservedly made them household names in Japan and around the world.   

ABE Hifumi, who was undefeated from 2015 until the summer of 2018, was clearly inspired by watching his sister’s final as he used the same technique as his sister to win world gold. ABE Hifumi is not known for his uchi-mata but employed the throw for ippon and his second World Championships gold medal. The Japanese proved too strong for unseeded and unfancied world number 36 Yerlan SERIKZHANOV (KAZ) who was a revelation in Baku.  

In the first semi-final 2017 world bronze medallist Tal FLICKER (ISR) was stunned by Worlds debutant SERIKZHANOV in golden score. After 95 seconds of additional time, the Kazakh threw FLICKER (ISR) with an o-soto-gari much to the delight to the large group of travelling fans from his homeland. The Tunis Grand Prix bronze medallist had guaranteed Kazakhstan their first medal in the competition.

In the second semi-final Olympic silver medallist AN Baul (KOR) was undone by ABE who pulled away from his adversary after two and a half minutes of golden score with his trademark sode-tsurikomi-goshi. Both judoka are two of the best in the world and their growing rivalry will no doubt take centre stage again on the IJF World Judo Tour in the near future.

In the first bronze medal contest AN defeated Junior world champion Daniel CARGNIN (BRA). The South Korean, who held the world title in 2015, is now a two-time world medallist having defeated the impressive Brazilian with a sode-tsurikomi-goshi which earned a waza-ari score.

In the second bronze medal contest 2009 world champion Georgii ZANTARAIA (UKR) defeated FLICKER who endured back-to-back losses in the final block. ZANTARAIA is simply a master of his craft and a legend in the sport and added one more world bronze to his incredible collection of honours after throwing with an uchi-mata which was worth a waza-ari score.

Final SERIKZHANOV, Yerlan (KAZ) v ABE, Hifumi (JPN)   

Bronze Medal Fights AN, Baul (KOR) v CARGNIN, Daniel (BRA) FLICKER, Tal (ISR) v ZANTARAIA, Georgii (UKR)  

Semi-Finals SERIKZHANOV, Yerlan (KAZ) v FLICKER, Tal (ISR)    ABE, Hifumi (JPN) v AN, Baul (KOR)

Final Results

1. ABE, Hifumi (JPN)                                                2. SERIKZHANOV, Yerlan (KAZ)        3. AN, Baul (KOR)                                      3. ZANTARAIA, Georgii (UKR)                                                             5. CARGNIN, Daniel (BRA)                                                            5. FLICKER, Tal (ISR)      7. GANBOLD, Kherlen (MGL)    7. PULIAEV, Mikhail (RUS)   

See also
Antalya GS 2024
Are Abe and Abe Able to Ascend in Antalya ?

28. Mar. 2024 / Among the 628 athletes accredited for the Antalya Grand ...

Antalya GS 2024
It’s Happening in Antalya!

28. Mar. 2024 / A week ago the World Judo Tour stopped in Tbilisi, ...

News
Rwanda's Judo Development Continues

27. Mar. 2024 / On Saturday 16th March the Rwanda Judo Federation orchestrated ...

News
MET Group, IJF Global Partner, Becomes Main Partner of Nils Stump

26. Mar. 2024 / Energy company MET Group has been promoting and supporting ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
Lipo Says Goodbye and Georgia Celebrates its Champions

24. Mar. 2024 / During the second day of competition of the Tbilisi ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
+100kg: Tushishvili Signs for a Fifth Gold Medal in a Grand Slam

24. Mar. 2024 / The first known final of the day was that of the men's ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
+78kg: Lucht Surprises Everyone

24. Mar. 2024 / Two Olympic champions were in play in Tbilisi in the ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
-100kg: Sherazadishvili Find his Marks

24. Mar. 2024 / Things were difficult for the double world champion ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
-78kg: Kurchenko Closes the Gap

24. Mar. 2024 / This group is truly elite.

Tbilisi GS 2024
-90kg: Bekauri is Back!

24. Mar. 2024 / They came among other things for him and they were ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
Fair-Play and Spectacular Judo, This Is What You Find in Georgia

24. Mar. 2024 / Georgian Judo and its many achievements and successes ...

Judo TV
Why Should You Watch JudoTV?

24. Mar. 2024 / If the dream of every judoka is to be physically present ...

Tbilisi GS 2024
Georgia Celebrates its Hero

23. Mar. 2024 / The World Judo Tour competitions are celebrations of ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...