FINAL RESULTS: WOMEN
-48kg: World number 113 JON wins for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (PRK)
Rank outsider JON Yu Sun (PRK) defeated world number 29 XIONG Yao (CHN) to win -48kg gold on day one of the Hohhot Grand Prix 2019. The world number 113 picked up two shidos after making a lethargic start but improved as the contest entered the final minute and eventually broke the deadlock with 25 seconds left via a waza-ari score from a ko-soto-gake and held on for her first IJF World Judo Tour triumph.
In the first semi-final JON upset Asian Championships gold medallist LI Yanan (CHN) to secure a place in the first final of the day by a well-timed waza-ari score which came with 14 seconds left on the clock. In the second semi-final world number 28 Sabina GILIAZOVA (RUS) lost out to home hope XIONG who booked a place in the final by a waza-ari score which came from a hold down.
The first bronze medal contest was won by Marrakech Grand Prix bronze medallist Katharina MENZ (GER) by ippon after 65 seconds against GILIAZOVA.
The second bronze medal was won by world number 16 Shira RISHONY (ISR) who earned her eigth Grand Prix medal at the expense of LI who was beaten after 51 seconds of golden score by a second waza-ari score.
Final XIONG, Yao (CHN) vs JON, Yu Sun (PRK)
Bronze Medal Fights GILIAZOVA, Sabina (RUS) vs MENZ, Katharina (GER) LI, Yanan (CHN) vs RISHONY, Shira (ISR)
Final Results
1. JON, Yu Sun (PRK) 2. XIONG, Yao (CHN) 3. MENZ, Katharina (GER) 3. RISHONY, Shira (ISR) 5. GILIAZOVA, Sabina (RUS) 5. LI, Yanan (CHN) 7. ERDENETSOGT, Gerelmaa (MGL) 7. CSERNOVICZKI, Eva (HUN)
-52kg: Teenage world champion ABE Uta makes golden start to her season
World champion and 2018 Hohhot Grand Prix winner ABE Uta (JPN) defeated world number eight Evelyne TSCHOPP (SUI) with a textbook uchi-mata to win her third Grand Prix title. The 18-year-old, who was making her first start of the season, scored ippon with her favoured technique after 90 seconds to extend her winning streak to 37 contests on the IJF World Judo Tour.
In the first semi-final ABE defeated Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Gefen PRIMO (ISR) by ippon while in the second semi-final TSCHOPP squeezed past world number six Gili COHEN (ISR) by a waza-ari score to advance into the final.
The first bronze medal was awarded to Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Ecaterina GUICA (CAN) after COHEN, who initially led with a waza-ari score, sustained a knee injury after being thrown for a waza-ari score and could no longer continue.
The second bronze medal was won by teenager PRIMO who stunned three-time world medallist Andreea CHITU (ROU) by fighting from the a deficit of a waza-ari score to throw for ippon to send her coach Shany HERSHKO out of his chair in jubilation.
Final TSCHOPP, Evelyne (SUI) vs ABE, Uta (JPN)
Bronze Medal Fights COHEN, Gili (ISR) vs GUICA, Ecaterina (CAN) CHITU, Andreea (ROU) vs PRIMO, Gefen (ISR)
Final Results
1. ABE, Uta (JPN) 2. TSCHOPP, Evelyne (SUI) 3. GUICA, Ecaterina (CAN) 3. PRIMO, Gefen (ISR) 5. COHEN, Gili (ISR) 5. CHITU, Andreea (ROU) 7. DELGADO, Angelica (USA) 7. LKHAGVASUREN, Sosorbaram (MGL)
-57kg: Asian-Pacific Championships winner powers to gold for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (PRK)
Asian-Pacific Championships winner KIM Jin A (PRK) struck IJF gold for the first time in her career as she defeated Tel Aviv Grand Prix silver medallist Daria MEZHETSKAIA (RUS) in the -57kg final. MEZHETSKAIA was denied a first IJF title by the world number 33 and first-time IJF finalist who backed up her impressive Asian Games credentials by celebrating gold for a rampant Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (PRK) team.
In the first semi-final MEZHETSKAIA surged past Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Sarah Leonie CYSIQUE (FRA) by the maximum score. In the second semi-final KIM swept past The Hague Grand Prix silver medallist LU Tongjuan (CHN) by ippon.
The first bronze medal was awarded to LU who caught Marrakech Grand Prix bronze medallist Timna NELSON LEVY (ISR) with te-waza for a match-winning waza-ari score after three minutes of golden score.
The second bronze medal was won by Osaka Grand Slam gold medallist Jessica KLIMKAIT (CAN) who defeated CYSIQUE with a morote-seoi-nage after four minutes of golden score to capture her fifth Grand Prix medal.
Final KIM, Jin A (PRK) vs MEZHETSKAIA, Daria (RUS)
Bronze Medal Fights LU, Tongjuan (CHN) vs NELSON LEVY, Timna (ISR) KLIMKAIT, Jessica (CAN) vs CYSIQUE, Sarah Leonie (FRA)
Final Results
1. KIM, Jin A (PRK) 2. MEZHETSKAIA, Daria (RUS) 3. LU, Tongjuan (CHN) 3. KLIMKAIT, Jessica (CAN) 5. NELSON LEVY, Timna (ISR) 5. CYSIQUE, Sarah Leonie (FRA) 7. ZHANG, Wen (CHN) 7. STOLL, Theresa (GER)
FINAL RESULTS: MEN
-60kg: Double world medallist KIM stars on return
Double world medallist KIM Won Jin (KOR) stole the show in Hohhot with the ippon of the day as he beat Asian Championships silver medallist YANG Yung Wei (TPE) to win the -60kg final. Osaka Grand Slam bronze medallist KIM, who finished seventh at Rio 2016 Olympics, added a touch of class to proceedings in the men’s lightest weight category as he claimed his fifth Grand Prix crown with a sensational hane-goshi for ippon in his first competition of the year.
In the first semi-final Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist Albert OGUZOV (RUS) fell to KIM by ippon while in the second semi-final YANG defeated former Qingdao Grand Prix winner CHOI In Hyuk (KOR) by a waza-ari score in golden score.
The first bronze medal was won by CHOI who outworked world number 60 KIM Yong Gwon (PRK) on his way to victory by a waza-ari score from an off balance attack after showing for a ippon-seoi-nage.
The second bronze medal went to OGUZOV who wrapped up a convincing win at the halfway point with two waza-ari scores as Tel Aviv Grand Prix bronze medallist Cedric REVOL (FRA) was overwhelmed from start to finish.
Final YANG, Yung Wei (TPE) vs KIM, Won Jin (KOR)
Bronze Medal Fights CHOI, In Hyuk (KOR) vs KIM, Yong Gwon (PRK) REVOL, Cedric (FRA) vs OGUZOV, Albert (RUS)
Final Results
1. KIM, Won Jin (KOR) 2. YANG, Yung Wei (TPE) 3. CHOI, In Hyuk (KOR) 3. OGUZOV, Albert (RUS) 5. KIM, Yong Gwon (PRK) 5. REVOL, Cedric (FRA) 7. MKHEIDZE, Luka (FRA) 7. SU, Rilege (CHN)
-66kg: KIM Limhwan strikes in Hohhot to win his second Grand Prix title
Düsseldorf Grand Slam silver medallist KIM Limhwan (KOR) beat Osaka Grand Slam bronze medallist Aram GRIGORYAN (RUS) in golden score to send his country top of the medal table. GRIGORYAN was penalised for passivity in added time which was his third offence and the Russian had to settle for silver as world number 41 KIM claimed his second IJF win and first since 2016.
In the first semi-final KIM saw off three-time Grand Prix winner Abdula ABDULZHALILOV (RUS) in golden score via hansoku-make while in the second semi-final world number 56 Daniel JEAN (FRA) was left deflated after losing out to GRIGORYAN by ippon in 75 seconds.
The first bronze medal was won by world number 135 TSAI Ming Yen (TPE) who submitted JEAN after 35 seconds as the Asian continent took control of the Hohhot Grand Prix.
The second bronze medal went to Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist YONDONPERENLEI Baskhuu (MGL) after ABDULZHALILOV received his marching orders in golden score for a false attack which was his third and final indiscretion.
Final GRIGORYAN, Aram (RUS) vs KIM, Limhwan (KOR)
Bronze Medal Fights JEAN, Daniel (FRA) vs TSAI, Ming Yen (TPE) ABDULZHALILOV, Abdula (RUS) vs YONDONPERENLEI, Baskhuu (MGL)
Final Results
1. KIM, Limhwan (KOR) 2. GRIGORYAN, Aram (RUS) 3. TSAI, Ming Yen (TPE) 3. YONDONPERENLEI, Baskhuu (MGL) 5. JEAN, Daniel (FRA) 5. ABDULZHALILOV, Abdula (RUS) 7. GANBOLD, Kherlen (MGL) 7. IBRAHIMOV, Ismayil (AZE)
