Number 1 seed Shakhram Ahadov (UZB) faced Yudai Tanaka (JPN) for the gold medal, a tricky challenge indeed. An incredible kumi-kata conflict ensued, each judoka unwilling to accept anything resembling a first choice from the other.
The power and pace of the gripping was a sight to behold but with 42 seconds to go, Tanaka decided he didn’t want to play that game any more and he slammed a heavy top grip over Ahadov’s shoulder and ploughed through him with a precise and unyielding o-uchi-gari. Ippon was the only possible reward!
The first of the two bronze medal contests was fought between Kazbek Naguchev (UAE) and Ejder Toktay (TUR), the latter opening the bidding not long into the fight, scoring with an uchi-mata which showcased his flexibility. Naguchev chased hard from that moment but couldn’t close the gap and in fact Toktay added a waza-ari to his lead with a seoi-otoshi just seconds before the end of time.
Shamil Zilfikarov (IJF) and Ahmadzod Masudi (TJK) stepped under the spotlights for the last medal of the category. A little more cautious and considered than the previous contest, it began slowly but it was a mistake to think there would be less action. After 45 seconds, the action began to flow and the dangers from both became clear. A hip throw from blue and tomoe-nage from white came in quick succession but unsuccessfully and then Zilfikarov felt there was a tiny space and he sunk into it with a powerful, spinning kata-guruma for ippon; the medal was his.
Final (-73 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-73 kg)
