Kokoro Kageura concludes Japanese success in Paris

The last final of the weekend opposed Kageura Kokoro (JPN) and Kim Sungmin (KOR). In less than a minute both athletes were penalised with two shidos each and had no other choice than to attack, which they did but 1:52 were necessary for the Japanese to score a beautiful ko-uchi-gari for ippon. It is the first gold medal for Kageura in a Grand Slam and the fifth gold for Japan here in Paris.

In the first semi-final World Judo Masters winner Guram Tushishvili (GEO) was disqualified against Kageura making contact with the face of his opponent with his knee while trying to adjust his position on the ground. In the second semi-final Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek (CZE) was beaten by Asian Championships winner Kim Sungmin (KOR) by a waza-ari from a ura-nage.

In the first bronze medal contest Roy Meyer (NED) faced the -100kg Olympic Champion, Lukas Krpalek (CZE) who moved up to the heavyweight category after the last Olympic Games. While nothing was scored during the regulatory time, Krpalek scored first in the golden score but the action was cancelled by the video refereeing jury. A few seconds later, Meyer engaged a uchi-mata that was countered by the Olympic champion.

The second and last bronze medal contest saw former Abu Dhabi Grand Slam silver medallist Aliaksandr Vakhaviak (BLR) take the final place on the men’s heavyweight podium as Tushishvili was restricted from competing due to being directly disqualified in his previous contest.