Ogawa draws inspiration from his legendary father for Japan

Ogawa Yusei of Japan brought the Ogawa name back to the international landscape in China as he continued to emerge from the shadow of his father and carve out his own reputation. The Japanese heavyweight warmed up this morning with four-time world champion and Barcelona 1992 Olympic silver medallist Ogawa Naoya who saw his son overpower fellow youngster Anton Krivobokov (RUS) to win gold.

Ogawa, Tyumen Grand Slam silver medallist, was more adept in ne-waza and created enough space to pin down the Russian with a mune-gatame and Krivobokov tapped out after 18 seconds.

In the first semi-final Tyumen Grand Slam winner Andrey Volkov of Russia lost out to Krivobokov who held down his compatriot with a kesa-gatame for 20 seconds and ippon. In the second semi-final former Junior World Championships winner Ulziibayar Duurenbayar (MGL) was thwarted by Tyumen Grand Slam silver medallist Ogawa Yusei (JPN). The Japanese fighter won by a single shido which was given to the Mongolian for a gripping infringement.

The first bronze medal went to Ulziibayar who came from behind to beat Taipei Asian Open bronze medallist Lee Po Yen (TPE) in the closing seconds. Two yuko scores put LEE in the ascendancy but he was careless in the last minute and was thrown for a waza-ari with 11 seconds left and tapped out while pinned in osaekomi after three seconds. The second bronze medal went to Volkov who edged past two-time Grand Prix bronze medallist Kim Kyeongtae (KOR). A shido against Kim for a gripping infringement was decisive as both judoka failed to threaten the scoreboard and their mutual lack of attacking impetus showed why they were inferior to today’s heavyweight final.