That did not mean his path to the final had been effortless, far from it. While none of his opponents had truly placed the Japanese star in immediate danger, each contest demanded complete focus and precision. In judo, the margins are unforgiving; even the greatest can slip, a single lapse enough to turn dominance into defeat. Abe, however, remained composed. He navigated every round with control and authority, advancing to yet another grand slam final.
The ultimate challenge came in an all-Japanese showdown against Shinsei Hattori (JPN). Though his résumé was less decorated, Hattori had looked formidable throughout the preliminary rounds, dispatching his opponents with conviction and building quiet momentum as the day progressed.
The final began with a brief feeling-out exchange; brief, because Abe seemed to take the measure of his younger compatriot quickly. Hattori showed clear intent and determination to challenge his illustrious teammate but he was given little opportunity to settle. Launching a high-powered hip technique and finishing with a moment of sheer brilliance, Abe sent Hattori crashing to the tatami with breathtaking speed. It marked a 14th grand slam gold medal for Abe, a true legend of the sport. The question remained: where would he stop?
Top seed Nurali Emomali (TJK) had arrived in Tashkent with ambitions of his own. As number one on the draw, he had every reason to believe the title was within reach. Yet his hopes were halted by Hattori, forcing him to regroup and refocus on a possible bronze medal. To reach the podium, he faced Valerio Accogli (ITA), who had pushed Abe hard in their semi-final encounter and proved himself to be a serious contender.
Golden score began with the two judoka perfectly level, each having scored a yuko during normal time. The contest could still have tipped either way. After a prolonged and exhausting exchange, Emomali found the decisive opening, scoring a small but crucial yuko with an o-soto-gari to secure his place on the podium after a long day of competition.
The second bronze medal contest saw Abdullakh Parchiev (RUS) take on Channyeong Kim (KOR), both determined to close their campaigns with a medal. The bout took time to open up, the athletes neutralising each other effectively. Then came the breakthrough: Parchiev executed a thunderous counter, driving his opponent flat onto his back with no chance of escape. It was ippon and a well-earned bronze medal for Parchiev.
