Tara Babulfath youngest ever winner at Grand Slam Baku

Tara Babulfath of Sweden ensured that she went home with a first grand slam gold medal by winning the U48kg category in Baku as youngest winner in the ten year history of this Grand Slam. She even managed to become among the 10 youngest victories ever in a Grand Slam. The 18-year old Babulfath is Sweden’s now judo hope.

The rising star, in her first grand slam final, began in a composed manner. She waited patiently against the experienced Milica Nikolic (SRB), forcing it to golden score. There the youngster pushed Nikolic to be penalised continuing to test her. Patience was the name of the game as she kept her composure to put her in the perfect position to stun Nikolic with an osae-komi in golden score.

Anna Bernholm (1), Martin Pacek (2) Tommy Macias (2), Marcus Nyman (5) have won a Grand Slam for Sweden before Babulfath is the fifth Grand Slam winner.

It took a moment of replaying and reviewing for the first bronze medal to be assigned and it was eventually ippon for Khalimajon Kurbonova (UZB) against Mireia Lapuerta Comas (ESP) of Spain.

The second bronze medal saw Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ) and Lois Petit (BEL) battle it out. It was an error-prone start with each judoka receiving a shido before the Belgian was warned a second time. When the third arrived it sent the bronze medal to Abuzhakynova, opening her grand slam account for 2024.

The category began with top seed Milica Nikolic (SRB), not so comfortable for a change, with two penalties against her before hanging to score ippon over Amanda Lima (BRA). The regular grand slam medallist began in similar fashion against Khalimajon Kurbonova (UZB) but won with a well-executed osae-komi.

She managed to find the rhythm in the semi-final too and Lois Petit (BEL) found herself on the losing end of a koshi-waza, securing the spot in the final.  

Babulfath, meanwhile, showed early glimpses of what would follow, surprising Abiba Abuzhakynova (KAZ). The Kazakh judoka had earned a waza-ari and ippon against Priscilla Morand (MRI) before running into the Swedish sensation. The 2022 world bronze medallist was not her usual self, exiting after a hansoku-make against Babulfath the later winner.