Yang Yung Wei defeats fomer world champion Chkhvimiani

Taipei judoka Yang Yung Wei who was silver medallist of the last Olympic Games in Tokyo and winner of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam added another Grand Slam gold. Staying on his stride and becoming world number one, Yang was the great favourite of the competition and he did not miss the call, qualifying for the final. His victory in the semi-final left him bursting with joy, thus demonstrating all the energy he had to deploy to reach this level once again.

Facing him, Lukhumi Chkhvimiani (GEO), far from being an unknown, was world champion in 2019 in Tokyo. The final promised to be explosive between the two technicians. It was actually an explosion of energy and techniques, especially coming from Yang Yung Wei, who scored with a seoi-nage for waza-ari, an advantage that gave him the victory. This is the second gold medal in a grand slam for Yang Yung Wei. We will remember the incredible battle delivered by these athletes, who at the end of the final bowed to each other and shook hands to show their mutual respect. For Yang Yung Wei it is a significant victory against a former world champion and in the years to come, there is no doubt that we will see him again.

Rodrigo Costa Lopes (POR) had the possibility of adding a second bronze medal from a grand slam to his list, competing against Francisco Garrigos (ESP), already several times a medallist at this level of competition, even at world level, with his title in the juniors in 2014 and his beautiful bronze medal last year in Budapest at the senior level. Nothing was scored during the first four minutes. On what initially appeared to be on the final gong, Garrigos pinned his opponent who tapped to surrender for ippon, but the video confirmed that the immobilisation actually began after the gong. Ippon was logically cancelled and golden score commenced with only shido on the scoreboard. When the third shido was given to Rodrigo Costa Lopes, Francisco Garrigos could finally enjoy his bronze medal.

In the second match for a bronze medal, Dilshodbek Baratov (UZB) and Jaba Papinashvili (GEO) fought over the right to join the other athletes already on the podium. In recent months, the head diving rule has been reinforced, to guarantee the safety of athletes. After thirty seconds Papinashvili launched a first attack, going directly on to his head and he was disqualified, offering a first medal in a grand slam to Dilshodbek Baratov.