Five winning nations at opening day Grand Slam Baku

Spanish Julia Figueroa became the winner of the Grand Slam U48kg, she didn’t have to fight Eva Csernoviczki who had an knee injury and couldn’t compete. Both were actually equal in head2heads and Figueroa beat her last year in Tbilisi. Figueroa gets the points and won her second Grand Slam. Last year she won the Grand Slam in Tyumen. Figueroa is the only one of Spain who ever won a Grand Slam, now even two. Four Spanish finals at a Grand Slam were lost.

In Baku Figueroa booked victories against Maria Guedez (VEN), Taciana Lima (GBS) and she defeated Otgontsetseg Galbadrakh (KAZ) in the semi final. Csernoviczki was able to beat Laetitia Payet in the semi final. The French judo mother collected essential points for Rio after she overcame Lima in the bronze bout. Galbadrakh defeated Lokmanhekim for bronze.

U60kg Boldbaatar Ganbat takes gold

Boldbaatar Ganbat of Mongolia against the unseeded Ryuju Nagayama. Both were World Champions, Ganbat as senior in 2014 and Nagayama is current junior World Champ. Halfway the referee gave the fourth penalty to Nagayama after a boring three minutes fight for the grip. A similar situation in the fight for bronze where Diyorbek Urozboev defeated Sharafuddin Lutfillaev, both from Uzbekistan. Ashley McKenzie had a great day in Baku and defeated strong opponents such as home fighter Vugar Shirinli and Panam Champion Felipe Kitadai with some great touches. He lost to 2014 World Champion Ganbat but defeated the second Brazilian Takabatake. Against Dashdavaa he grabbed bronze after a penalty in the golden score for his second Grand Slam medal. Ganbat Boldbaatar won his second Grand Slam in his career in 2014 he won Paris.

U52kg Cohen pushes out Giuffrida from golden podium

The final in the women’s category U52kg was very close and both Gili Cohen (ISR) and Odette Giuffrida (ITA) looked tired after a good day of judo. Giuffrida beat Kim Mi-Ri, Evelyne Tschopp and Erika Miranda before she was opposed to Cohen. The Israelian defeated world athletes Darya Skypnik (BLR) and Annabelle Euranie before she caught Ma Yingnan in the semi final. The final was decided after three minutes in the golden score after Giuffrida pushed out Cohen of the tatami in the perception of the referee.

Ma Yingnan and Bundmaa Munkhbaatar took the bronze medals in Baku, both were the quarter finallists in pool D.

U66kg Favourite Mikhail Pulyaev takes gold

Double world silver medallist Mikhail Pulyaev (RUS) won the category U66kg. The Russian defeated Azamat Mukanov (KAZ) who captured his first IJF World Tour medal. It was just Pulyaev’s second ever Grand Slam victory. In 2014 he won in Paris, in 2008 he won the World Cup in Baku. But this venue was renewed for the 2015 European Games and showed a stunning good opening ceremony. Pulyaev fought like ever before, balanced and in control. He beat Mukanov in 25 seconds with a splendid throw controlled by perfect steering work, an easy win, without losing energy.

Pulyaev todat won against Lefevere (BEL), Talishinski (AZE), Verde (ITA) and Uriarte (SPA). Mukanov came in shape in Baku were he just missed a bronze medal at the Grand Prix in April. Mukanov surprised when he beat European Champion Vazha Margvelashvili in the morning session by ippon and Europe’s bronze medallist Fabio Basile (ITA).

Home fighter Tarlan Karimov  beat Belgian Kenneth Van Gansbeke for bronze in the golden score after he got reluctant after six minutes of fighting. Ten year older Sugoi Uriarte defeated European bronze medallist Fabio Basile for bronze.

U57kg Yoshida takes gold for Japan

Tsukasa became the winner of the Grand Slam U57kg against Nekoda Smythe Davis. Tsukasa won her third Grand Slam in her career.  Yoshida is coached by 2005 World Champion Midori Shintani, Davis by 1997 World Champion Kate Howey. Davis had a strong day and defeated Podolak, Filzmoser and Lu for the final, Yoshida beat Verhagen, Silva and Roper, another impressive list of top athletes. Yoshida scored two Yukos in the second half of the match with her strong barai and added a wazari to take the gold against Davis.

Sabrina Filzmoser threw Miryam Roper twice in their battle for bronze. The last was enough for ippon and an injury for Roper. Filzmoser was the first to understand the pain in this stage and cared about Roper who could stand up with a bruised shoulder. Brazilian Rafaela Silva lost herself painfully with an armlock against Tsukasa Yoshida but could continue and lost her bronze bout against Lu Tongjuan who surprised number one seed Lien (TPE) in the quarter final and now defeated 2013 World Champion Silva. Lu became the 10^th Chinese athlete since 2008 to win a Grand Slam medal outside the heavyweight categories, only won by women.

The Grand Slam of Baku welcomed 448 judoka (279 men, 169 women) from 76 nations to the second of five annual Grand Slams on the IJF World Judo Tour. Only three events remain in the Olympic qualification phase with the Baku Grand Slam being followed by the Almaty Grand Prix next week and the final points available are up for grabs at the invite-only World Judo Masters at 27-29 May in Guadalajara, Mexico.