Gwak Dong Han completes the triple in Jeju

Korean World champion Gwak Dong Han won his third consecutive Jeju Grand Prix as he beat former World Judo Masters silver medallist Axel Clerget (FRA) in the -90kg final. The Asian champion, 23, ruled in Jeju in 2013, 2014 and now 2015, as he opened the scoring with a yuko before adding a waza-ari to seal one more home triumph.

In the first semi-final Gwak advanced with a win over Ilias Iliadis (GRE) who had beaten Iddir (FRA) in golden score in the quarter-final. The scoreless contest was settled on shido penalties as Iliadis was penalised three times while the former was penalised once. In the second semi-final Clerget recorded a notable win over world silver medallist Kirill Denisov (RUS) by a waza-ari as Russia’s dependable -90kg front-runner was sent into the bronze medal contest. 

The first bronze medal was awarded to Denisov as Magomed Magomedov (RUS) received four shidos as he was unable to challenge his more accomplished teammate. The second bronze medal went to former Olympic and world champion Iliadis who beat former world silver medallist Toth Krisztian (HUN) in a rematch of the World Championships final from 2014. The latter went in front with a yuko before Iliadis responded with a waza-ari and smothered Toth in osaekomi for 15 seconds for bronze. Toth and Iliadis both showed their exemplary etiquette and the tremendous respect for each other as they shared a touching embrace which earned the applause of their peers in the crowd.