Maisuradze may have been world champion but Ivanov has a great record at grand prix level, with 4 golds to his name; could he make it 5? The answer was yes! Maisuradze attacked in ways that allow almost no-one to escape but an intelligent and focused Ivanov was able to, fighting excellently on the grip tp impose his own attacks often. At full time there was a shido apiece on the board and so the golden score period was necessary. Only 20 seconds in, Ivaylo Ivanov dropped underneath the Georgian and targeted a tomoe-nage just well enough to catch a yuko, enough to win the -90 kg title in Zagreb. What a great day he has had!
In the first of two bronze medal contests, Vugar Talibov and Aslan Kotsoev stepped on to the tatami, an Azerbaijani derby. Talibov almost took the win immediately with a huge movement and transition straight into an armlock but the first movement was reviewed and scrubbed sending the judoka back to zero-zero. In the next exchange Kotsoev scored a waza-ari and in the next two exchanges Talibov earned a yuko and a waza-ari in quick succession.
If anyone ever needed an example of the will to win, this contest is it! Teammates, yes, and probably friends too, but neither was willing to give an inch to the other in this medal match. After such an impressive beginning, the contest then settled and although both athletes continued to search for scores, no more came and so Talibov won by a single yuko.
Next up were Aaron Santamaria Rodriguez (ESP) and Miljan Radulj (SRB) in a fight that would decide the last place on the podium. Radulj dictated the pace and out-gripped Santamaria Rodriguez for the first two minutes, making it very difficult for him to attack and so the Spanish judoka received two penalties early in the fight but they pushed him to open up and then things became more complicated for Radulj.
Undeterred, Miljan Radulj found a new way to lead and promptly took his gameplan to the floor, turning Santamaria Rodriguez over with a technical and clearly well drilled technique, directly into osaekomi. The ippon and the medal were Radulj’s.
Final (-90 kg)
Bronze Medal Fights (-90 kg)
