Day 2, middleweight day, began with a number of Olympians and world medallists towering over the rest. Only three Japanese judoka would compete today though, not from Japan’s long list of world or Olympic medallists, opening up the possibility of a medal table takeover, if China or Mongolia could find their rhythm. Japan should never be underestimated though and despite the limited experience of the team, there is nothing to say they couldn’t all win!
At -63 kg, the only category of the day without a Japanese entry, 2022 world medallist Manon Deketer (FRA) sat at the top of the table. Her teammate, Melkia Auchecorne (FRA), 4 places above her in the world ranking, was also on site but fighting up at -70 kg, a new challenge for her.
Deketer armlocked Jun Li (CHN) in her opening contest before throwing fellow world medallist Angelika Szymanska (POL) for waza-ari in golden score with a slow but well controlled kata-guruma, an important semi-final win.
On the bottom half of the draw, double world medallist Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo (MGL) armlocked Chaewon Shin (KOR) before throwing Kaja Kajzer (SLO) for a yuko with tomoe-nage, also in golden score, mirroring the pattern Deketer followed, an apt observation as they will next meet in today’s final. Their equal records here in China offer no suggestion of who the gold medallist will be but they have both shown skill on the ground and standing and so it could be anyone’s crown.
-63 kg final
Manon Deketer (FRA) vs Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo (MGL)
Bronze medal contests
Jun Li (CHN) vs Ji Hye Kim (PRK)
Kaja Kajzer (SLO) vs Angelika Szymańska (POL)
At -73 kg Shakhram Ahadov (UZB) was the only one of the top 4 seeds to make it to the semi-finals, arriving in Qingdao as the number one in his category. Of the others, Naguchev (UAE) and Yonezuka (USA) fell at the quarter-final stage, giving themselves the chance to still fight for bronze medals, but Abubakr Sherov (TJK) lost in the round of 16 and was therefore offered no second chance.
O-soto-gaeshi, ko-uchi-gari and ko-soto-gake, just some of the techniques employed by Yudai Tanaka on his way to the final to meet Ahadov. He looked sharp, determined and like a potential problem for the Uzbek. Opposing styles always make for explosive contests and this should be one of those finals.
Six athletes from 6 different nations stepped forward into the final block, a show of diversity and promise.
-73 kg final
Shakhram Ahadov (UZB) vs Yudai Tanaka (JPN)
Bronze medal contests
Kazbek Naguchev (UAE) vs Ejder Toktay (TUR)
Shamil Zilfikarov (IJF) vs Ahmadzod Masudi (TJK)
Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy (MAD) really put the cat among the pigeons in the -70 kg category. From an island off the coast of Africa in the warmth of the Indian Ocean she came to Qingdao, China, to impress! From sumi-otoshi to ko-soto-gake and tomoe-nage, she worked fast, with precision and strength, an inspired performance to reach the final. Melkia Auchecorne was her most prolific victim, thrown for ippon in just 14 seconds. The French grand slam medallist and double junior world champion could only respond in slow motion, shock prevailing. It was a big blow considering she had just eliminated Szofie Ozbas and though her route to the podium was safe.
Elsewhere in the category, Lara Cvjetko (CRO) held seeding at the top of the draw, Lu Liu (CHN) put 2024 world champion Margaux Pinot out of the tournament in round one, while Utana Terada came through strongly in pool B. China’s Yingying Feng was victorious in pool D, setting up a great final block for the hosts.
-70 kg final
Lara Cvjetko (CRO) vs Aina Laura Rasoanaivo Razafy (MAD)
Bronze medal contests
Kaja Schuster (SLO) vs Yingying Feng
Melia Auchecorne (FRA) vs Utana Terada (JPN)
At -81 kg Somon Makhmadbekov (TJK) was the man to beat. An Olympic medallist and in years gone by a junior world champion, he arrived at the top of the draw. His position was usurped however by 21-year-old Adilet Almat (KAZ), a judoka with no reference at senior level who countered for a yuko in golden score, dropping the Tajik champion into the repechage.
Omarov (UAE) and Albayrak (TUR) suffered the same fate, losing their quarter-finals to Yoshito Hojo (JPN) and China’s Xinglong Cha. Cha was a revelation for the crowd who cheered loudly for him as, with no previous wins on the world Judo Tour, he held Toth (HUN) and Albayrak before throwing Askerbii Gerbekov (BRN) for ippon with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it seoi-otoshi.
-81 kg final
Yoshito Hojo (JPN) vs Xinglong Cha (CHN)
Bronze medal contests
Gadzhimurad Omarov (UAE) vs Askerbii Gerbekov (BRN)
Vedat Albayrak (TUR) vs Adilet Almat (KAZ)
The final block begins at 5pm local time and promises to be a feast of powerful judo. Tune in to JudoTV.com to follow all the action live.