Highlights From the Men’s Preliminaries - Day 5

In Azerbaijan’s capital, Murao turned trend on its head and took just 38 seconds to throw Bekauri for ippon. As it was a third-round contest, bekauri was eliminated from the competition!

Murao dispatched one opponent after another on his path to the final, making much of his day look like randori. Total focus, smooth judo and an instinct for the right moment sent Murao into the final with ease. World bronze medallist Erlan Shrove (KGZ), Bekauri, world and European champion Nemanja Majdov (SRB) and Olympic medallist Maxime-Gael Ngayap-Hambou (FRA) were all knocked out of the race for gold; a majestic performance.

Aside from his loss against Murao, Majdov delivered another persistent day of powerful judo. A slip-up against Lachlan Moorhead (GBR) in Budapest just weeks ago had a clear impact and as they were drawn against each other in Baku, Majdov took the opportunity to rectify that situation, decisively and quickly!

With Majdov fighting for bronze and Murao into the final, there were a few more names to take note of, those who fought with great determination and skill to reach the day 5 final block with them: Goki Tajima (JPN) went to meet Murao in an all-Japanese final, Murad Fatiyev (AZE), Boris Rutovic (SRB) and Ngayap-Hambou all joined Majdov in the fights for the two bronze medals.

With Majdov fighting for bronze and Murao into the final, there were a few more names to take note of, those who fought with great determination and skill to reach the day 5 final block with them: Goki Tajima (JPN) went to meet Murao in an all-Japanese final, Murad Fatiyev (AZE), Boris Rutovic (SRB) and Ngayap-Hambou all joined Majdov in the fights for the two bronze medals.