Bekir Ozlu grabs gold at Grand Prix The Hague

Bekir Ozlu of Turkey was the star of the show in the U60kg category as he finished unbeaten after four contests in The Hague. World number 17 Ozlu can now wait for his invitation to the World Judo Masters in December after his win will guarantee a shift in position on the World Ranking List inside the top 16 and, on this showing, he will not be going there just to make up the numbers.

Cancun Grand Prix bronze medallist Ashley Mckenzie (GBR) offered a stern challenge in the final after displaying his best judoka in the preliminaries but Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Ozlu caught the Briton against the run of play for ippon with a clever counter seconds prior to the three minute mark.

In the first semi-final Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Francisco Garrigos (ESP) was beautifully thrown by Mckenzie (GBR) with a tai-otoshi for a match-winning waza-ari score after 34 seconds of golden score. In the second semi-final Dashdavaa was beaten by Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Ozlu after exactly 90 seconds of golden score. The Mongolian was in riveting form in the previous rounds but met his match in Ozlu who prevailed thanks to a shido which was given for dropping.  

The first bronze medal was won by Dashdavaa who picked up former Junior European Championships winner Roy Koffijberg (NED) for a sensational win by ippon in just 14 seconds. An osoto-gari from the only Dutch representative in the final block was countered with a gigantic pick up from the Mongolian who had a day to remember.

The second bronze medal went to 20-year-old Antalya Grand Prix bronze medallist Bayaraa Amartuvshin (MGL) who defeated top seed Garrigos. Bayaraa matched the result of his teammate Dashdavaa for a Mongolian double in the -60kg category after throwing with a stalling seoi-otoshi which eventually ended with the Spaniard going over for a waza-ari score after 43 seconds of golden score.

Watch more judo news from the GP The Hague