Zelim Tckaev grabs gold for host Azerbaijan

The final for men U81kg opposed François Gauthier-Drapeau (CAN) and Zelim Tckaev (AZE) with an electric atmosphere on the cards. Fast and opportunistic, Tckaev was dangerous from the beginning with almost all of his attacks, Gauthier-Drapeau only managing to escape several times at the last moment. It was finally through the Canadian's movement that Tckaev found his opportunity, an o-soto-gaeshi for a yuko.

Everything could still change, with Gauthier-Drapeau putting pressure on his opponent with an armlock, but Tckaev escaped. Time flew by and that's how Zelim Tckaev won the gold medal, the first for Azerbaijan here in Baku.
The first bronze medal contest opposed Egor Sukhoparov (IJF) and Somon Makhmadbekov (TJK). The judoka reached golden score with one shido apiece. Makhmadbekov was penalised a second time at the beginning of golden score putting the Olympic medallist under pressure. Despite some attempts to find opportunities, Makhmadbekov remained less active than his opponent. When the third shido fell on his shoulders, Makhmadbekov sow the medal flying away to Egor Sukhoparov, who stepped on a grand slam podium for the first time.
The first rounds were perfectly in line with the world rankings, with each of the leaders of their quarter of the draw advancing quietly in the competition. The winner in Paris two weeks ago in the most beautiful way possible, François Gauthier-Drapeau (CAN) continued with his momentum, in great shape during this European tour. The Canadian judoka, who according to his coach in Paris, Antoine Valois-Fortier, has reached a crucial stage in his career, found himself in the semi-finals again.
In pool B, after the elimination of Attila Ungvari (HUN), it was Askerbii Gerbekov (BRN) who earned himself a place in . semi-finals, where he found François Gauthier-Drapeau ready for a high-intensity fight. It was in fact very intense and despite being tired from so many contests between Paris and Baku, Gauthier-Drapeau found the energy to engage a risky o-soto-gari. However, risks often pay off and this was another clear ippon for the Canadian judoka and a new the final, two in a row at grand slam level. 
In Pool C, Somon Makhmadbekov (TJK) won with a little taste of the explosive judo that we will see in Dushanbe in a few weeks (Dushanbe Grand Slam 2nd to 4th May). In the first round, he scored ippon with a monumental o-soto-gari against Schamil Dzavbatyrov (GER), then he scored yuko, waza-ari and ippon against Bernd Fasching (AUT), before winning against Meiirzhan Zhumabek (KAZ) to reach the semi-final.
At the bottom of the draw, it was the local man, Zelim Tckaev (AZE), Azerbaijan’s representative at the Paris 2024 Games, who won, offering serious medal hopes to the host country. In the quarter-finals though, he had to work hard to get rid of his teammate Omar Rajabli (AZE), after a long golden score battle, before a new significant victory against Somon Makhmadbekov via a small yuko, to reach the final. Gold for Azerbaijan afterall in this category and a more balanced medal table compared to yesterday’s stunning five gold medals for Japan that still leads with six victories.