-78kg: TCHEUMEO stays unbeaten in 2018 with Tbilisi triumph
Paris Grand Slam winner Audrey TCHEUMEO (FRA) won her second IJF World Judo Tour event in a row with victory over Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Anastasiya TURCHYN (UKR) in the -78kg final. World number four TCHEUMEO won her seventh Grand Prix title by holding down the Ukrainian for ippon to extended her winning-streak to eight contests in 2018.
In the first semi-final TCHEUMEO bested Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Beata PACUT (POL) by two waza-ari scores with the first going unanswered and the second putting the Frenchwoman in the final. The pick of the scores was an ouchi-gari for the second waza-ari from TCHEUMEO. In the second semi-final Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Madeleine MALONGA (FRA) lost out to TURCHYN by a waza-ari score as the Ukrainian denied an all-French -78kg final.
The first bronze medal contest was won by MALONGA who countered an osoto-gari from Agadir Grand Prix bronze medallist Yarden MAYERSOHN (ISR) for ippon after 90 seconds to win her sixth Grand Prix medal.
The second bronze medal was won by PACUT who proved too strong for former Junior World Championships bronze medallist Lisa DOLLINGER (GER) as the former prevailed by a narrow margin of a waza-ari score which was the only score in the four minute bout.
Final
TURCHYN, Anastasiya (UKR) vs TCHEUMEO, Audrey (FRA)
Bronze Medal Fights
MALONGA, Madeleine (FRA) vs MAYERSOHN, Yarden (ISR)
PACUT, Beata (POL) vs DOLLINGER, Lisa (GER)
Final Results
1. TCHEUMEO, Audrey (FRA)
2. TURCHYN, Anastasiya (UKR)
3. MALONGA, Madeleine (FRA)
3. PACUT, Beata (POL)
5. MAYERSOHN, Yarden (ISR)
5. DOLLINGER, Lisa (GER)
7. FERRARI, Valeria (ITA)
7. SHMELEVA, Antonina (RUS)
+78kg: French teen DICKO, 18, strikes Grand Prix gold at the first attempt
Junior European champion Romane DICKO (FRA) reigned supreme in Tbilisi to claim her first IJF World Judo Tour title. The 18-year-old starlet won all four of her contests without shipping a single score to complete the second part of the French team’s women’s heavyweight double having seen teammate Audrey TCHEUMEO (FRA) win -78kg gold. DICKO looks a ready made long-term replacement for Olympic champion Emilie ANDEOL (FRA) who retired after Rio 2016. European champion Maryna SLUTSKAYA (BLR) was brushed aide in the final with harai-makikomi opening the scoring for a waza-ari and DICKO trapped the Belarus judoka in osaekomi for 10 seconds and gold. The result completed a remarkable performance from France who won five out of the seven women’s gold medals available.
In the first semi-final SLUTSKAYA dropped under Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Anne Fatoumata M BAIRO (FRA) to throw with a seoi-nage for ippon and a place in the +78kg gold medal contest. In the second semi-final DICKO downed The Hague Grand Prix silver medallist Sandra JABLONSKYTE (LTU) with two harai-makikomi efforts earning her a waza-ari on each occasion.
The first bronze medal was awarded to JABLONSKYTE who profited from the wastefulness of Agadir Grand Prix bronze medallist Ivana SUTALO (CRO) who was penalised on three occasions and was disqualified.
The second bronze medal was won by M BAIRO after former Tashkent Grand Prix winner Ivana MARANIC (CRO) was penalised three times. MARANIC started well with an ashi-waza counter for a waza-ari as she showed good foot work but with two minutes left the contest was wrapped up. M BAIRO was declared the winner after her opponent touched the leg of the Frenchwoman for a third shido as Croatian missed out on a +78kg medal.
Final
DICKO, Romane (FRA) vs SLUTSKAYA, Maryna (BLR)
Bronze Medal Fights
JABLONSKYTE, Sandra (LTU) vs SUTALO, Ivana (CRO)
MARANIC, Ivana (CRO) vs M BAIRO, Anne Fatoumata (FRA)
Final Results
1. DICKO, Romane (FRA)
2. SLUTSKAYA, Maryna (BLR)
3. JABLONSKYTE, Sandra (LTU)
3. M BAIRO, Anne Fatoumata (FRA)
5. SUTALO, Ivana (CRO)
5. MARANIC, Ivana (CRO)
7. SAPSAI, Anastasiia (UKR)
7. SZIGETVARI, Mercedesz (HUN)
FINAL RESULTS: MEN
-90kg: Brazil begin to usher in new era with Tokyo 2020 generation as MACEDO wins
Former Junior World Championships winner Rafael MACEDO (BRA) became the first male judoka to break Georgia’s stranglehold of the gold medals in Tbilisi. Hosts Georgia had a perfect record of five gold medals from five men’s categories before the -90kg final. Judo Sogipa talent MACEDO, 23, who took silver at the Zagreb Grand Prix last year, won his first IJF senior title in golden score with a defiant display as he absorbed the home atmosphere and eventually rolled world number 224 Giorgi PAPUNASHVILI (GEO) over for a waza-ari in golden score.
In the first semi-final Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Ciril GROSSKLAUS (SUI) was second best against world PAPUNASHVILI as the Swiss was penalised three times and received hansoku-make. In the second semi-final 21-year-old IJF World Judo Tour debutant Theodoros TSELIDIS (GRE) lost to former junior ace MACEDO by ippon after the Brazilian built on his opening waza-ari score.
The first bronze medal was won by former Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Piotr KUCZERA (POL) against TSELIDIS who was something of a mystery man in the -90kg category. KUCZERA marginally outworked his opponent who was an unknown quantity as he was appearing internationally for the first time. The Greek judoka was penalised for a third time for dropping and received hansoku-make.
The second bronze medal went to Li KOCHMAN (ISR) who came from behind to defeat GROSSKLAUS. Switzerland’s GROSSKLAUS rolled over his rival for a waza-ari but was then caught with an uchi-mata for a waza-ari score and the contest moved into golden score. After an additional 17 seconds KOCHMAN powered the top seed to the tatami with a thumping osoto-gari for ippon.
Final
MACEDO, Rafael (BRA) vs PAPUNASHVILI, Giorgi (GEO)
Bronze Medal Fights
TSELIDIS, Theodoros (GRE) vs KUCZERA, Piotr (POL)
KOCHMAN, Li (ISR) vs GROSSKLAUS, Ciril (SUI)
Final Results
1. MACEDO, Rafael (BRA)
2. PAPUNASHVILI, Giorgi (GEO)
3. KUCZERA, Piotr (POL)
3. KOCHMAN, Li (ISR)
5. TSELIDIS, Theodoros (GRE)
5. GROSSKLAUS, Ciril (SUI)
7. PETGRAVE, Jamal (GBR)
7. KEITA, Ibrahim (FRA)
-100kg: Israel’s PALTCHIK wins second Grand Prix title
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Peter PALTCHIK (ISR) reached the highest step on a Grand Prix podium for the second time in his career with a fine win over a debuting Russian opponent. PALTCHIK, 26, had too much experience for Merab MARGIEV, 26, who was gracing the IJF stage for the first time, and had started as a rank outsider. Israel’s first gold medal in Tbilisi came 95 seconds into the final when PALTCHIK was at full stretch for an osoto-gari to win by ippon.
In the first semi-final Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Jorge FONSECA (POR) was surprisingly overpowered on the ground by MARGIEV who held down the feared Portuguese for 20 seconds and ippon. In the second semi-final world number 120 Iasoni NEMSADZE (GEO) fell to defeat at the hands of PALTCHIK who dropped under his opponent in the first 30 seconds to throw for ippon and a place in the -100kg final.
The first bronze medal was won by former Cadet World Championships bronze medallist Onise SANEBLIDZE (GEO) as NEMSADZE could not compete due to an injury.
The second bronze medal went to FONSECA as the number one seed threw world number 10 Benjamin FLETCHER (IRL) twice and scored a waza-ari each time. Portuguese powerhouse FONSECA twice dropped under the Irish judoka to power onto the podium and secure his third IJF medal in 2018.
Final
PALTCHIK, Peter (ISR) vs MARGIEV, Merab (RUS)
Bronze Medal Fights
NEMSADZE, Iasoni (GEO) vs SANEBLIDZE, Onise (GEO)
FLETCHER, Benjamin (IRL) vs FONSECA, Jorge (POR)
Final Results
1. PALTCHIK, Peter (ISR)
2. MARGIEV, Merab (RUS)
3. SANEBLIDZE, Onise (GEO)
3. FONSECA, Jorge (POR)
5. NEMSADZE, Iasoni (GEO)
5. FLETCHER, Benjamin (IRL)
7. MUKHAMETKHANOV, Zhassulan (KAZ)
7. OZBETELASHVILI, David (GEO)
+100kg: TUSHISHVILI wins a heavyweight thriller against Iran’s MAHJOUB in the send-off from Georgia
World Judo Masters winner Guram TUSHISHVILI (GEO) achieved a new title in his ever-prospering career to send the Georgian fans home happy in the last contest of the Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018. TUSHISHVILI, 23, had previously campaigned only at -100kg in Grand Prix events going back to 2014, 2015 and 2016 and has since transformed into one of the best heavyweights in the world. Former Moscow Grand Slam winner Javad MAHJOUB (IRI) was the second finalist and himself has breathed new life into this career since moving up a weight category in 2017. MAHJOUB weighed in at 117.1kg while TUSHISHVILI clocked the scales at 108.5kg which made him the second lightest judoka in the category. The Georgian’s athletic frame has ensured that he has retained all of his quickness and mobility that he possessed back at -100kg and he has the throwing skills to beat almost everyone in front of him. TUSHISHVILI started the final at a slow pace as MAHJOUB launched big attack after big attack which had the crowd out of their seats with concern. Both judoka were locked in an osoto-osoto stand-off and it was the Iranian who set his home opponent off balance for a waza-ari score. Whenever TUSHISHVILI is on the tatami there is a special feeling as he has star quality and there is always high drama. The last contest of the competition was no exception as the Georgian was first to react on the ground after a failed attack and pinned down MAHJOUB for 20 seconds for a dream conclusion for the host nation.
In the first semi-final TUSHISHVILI threw teammate and former Tbilisi Grand Prix winner Levani MATIASHVILI (GEO) for a waza-ari score and followed up for ten seconds on the ground to storm into the heavyweight final. In the second semi-final MAHJOUB bested Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Onise BUGHADZE (GEO) with two waza-ari scores to silence the home crowd and book a spot in the last contest of the Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018.
The first bronze medal was won by former u23 European Championships bronze medallist Jur SPIJKERS (NED) who saw off former IJF Academy student BUGHADZE in golden score. World number 69 SPIJKERS, 21, won his first Grand Prix hardware when his opponent was disqualified for picking up three shido penalties.
The second bronze medal went to MATIASHVILI who launched world number 80 Hamza OUCHANI (FRA) with an uchi-mata for a truly heavyweight ippon. MATIASHVILI pounced with 53 seconds left on the clock to send the crowd wild as the third Grand Prix outing for the Frenchman ended with his third fifth-place finish.
Final
MAHJOUB, Javad (IRI) vs TUSHISHVILI, Guram (GEO)
Bronze Medal Fights
BUGHADZE, Onise (GEO) vs SPIJKERS, Jur (NED)
MATIASHVILI, Levani (GEO) vs OUCHANI, Hamza (FRA)
Final Results
1. TUSHISHVILI, Guram (GEO)
2. MAHJOUB, Javad (IRI)
3. SPIJKERS, Jur (NED)
3. MATIASHVILI, Levani (GEO
5. BUGHADZE, Onise (GEO)
5. OUCHANI, Hamza (FRA)
7. OKRUASHVILI, Adam (GEO)
7. INOCENCIO, Jonas (BRA)