Tuitekova denies Uzbekistan’s cadet world champion for Kazakhstan victory

Aigunim Tuitekova of Kazakhstan was the surprise winner in the U52kg category as she sealed her first IJF World Judo Tour victory by ending the spirited run of 18-year-old cadet world champion Diyora Keldiyorova of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s starlet was aiming to become the first woman from her country to win a Grand Prix and would have been the second youngest ever Grand Prix winner. Tuitekova had other ideas and this was her moment as she prevailed by a yuko as neighbouring Kazakhstan made a bright start to the competition.

In the first semi-final Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Tena Sikic of Croatia was narrowly defeated by Keldiyorova. The 18-year-old Uzbek tried a tomoe-nage into juji-gatame on multiple occasions with any success but her workrate and the lack of endeavours from the Croatian brought about a shido for Sikic for passivity. The Uzbek arm hunter guaranteed her first IJF senior medal by winning the scoreless contest by two shidos as Sikic was penalised a second time for being passive. In the second semi-final Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Aigul Tashtimirova (RUS) was humbled by Tuitekova (KAZ) on shido penalties. With no scores registered after four minutes, the contest was settled by shidos with two against the Russian and only one against the Kazakh.

The first bronze medal was clinched by 18-year-old Gulaim Jumabaeva (UZB) in golden score against Tashtimirova. Junior Asian Cup bronze medallist Jumabaeva scored with a tomoe-nage as that yuko won the contest for the hosts and the aforementioned judoka could celebrate the greatest moment of her young career. The second bronze medal was won by SIKIC who has been one of the young judoka to make a major impact on the IJF World Judo Tour in this post-Olympics stage. Former Tashkent World Cup bronze medallist Dildora Ubaydullaeva (UZB) fell to two waza-ari scores as SIKIC looked composed while taking on the home fighter and this fine result will continue her steady climb up the world rankings.