Mikhail Igolnikov defends gold in Mongolia

After a victory in the first round, it was Mikhail Igolnikov (AIN) who made the best impression at the bottom of the draw. He then benefitted from the absence of former world champion, Nemanja Majdov (SRB), before winning against the 2021 junior world champion, Peter Safrany (HUN). In the semi-finals, Igolnikov beat Komronshokh Ustopiryon (TJK). After a tactical contest and three penalties given to Erlan Sherov (KGZ), Igolnikov won the gold medal.

Alexis Mathieu (FRA), author of a great competition, faced Komronshokh Ustopiryon (TJK) to reach the podium. It was a tough contest for Alexis Mathieu, under the incredible pressure of Ustopiryon, but Mathieu dealt with it very well, scoring a strong waza-ari with a powerful ura-nage after Komronshokh Ustopiriyon released the pressure too early. The last seconds were long for the French athlete, but in the end he won his first medal in a grand slam.

Peter Safrany (HUN) and Mansur Lorsanov (AIN) still had to decide for a medal. With a waza-ari scored from a counter-attack, Safrany took the lead and kept the score alive until the gong to win his first medal in a grand slam as well, like Mathieu did just before.

Krisztian Toth was first seed, yet from the first round we felt that it might not be a great day for the Hungarian champion. Against the American John Jayne, if he won with a beautiful waza-ari on a spectacular morote-seoi-nage, he then had to go until the end of the fight to breathe. In the next round, out of breath, he took a third penalty synonymous with defeat against Mansur Lorsanov (AIN) and in the repechage, he was heavily thrown by the French judoka Alexis Mathieu. His medal chances were over. The gold medal result is the same as last year.