Ruika Sato outshines world champion to win third Grand Slam title

Japanese heavyweight Sato Ruika won her home event for the second time as she returned to the top of the podium in Tokyo for the first time since 2012 by beating Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix bronze medallist Park Yujin of Korea.

Sato, who has now won three Grand Slam gold medals with her other Grand Slam victory outside of Japan coming in 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. A shido against Park was the difference after four minutes as Japan almost cleaned up the U78kg category with three of the four medals staying in Tokyo.

In the first semi-final Qingdao Grand Prix winner Takayama Rika was beaten by Park in golden score when the Japanese fighter was penalised with a shido. In the second semi-final world champion Umeki Mami also suffered defeat as Sato defeated her by a yuko from a tani-otoshi.

The first bronze medal was won by Umeki over Tyumen Grand Slam silver medallist Klara Apotekar (SLO). The home judoka and her Slovenian rival were both penalised with a shido for passivity and continued their battle into golden score for two added minutes until Umeki took control of her opponent for a yuko score.   

The second bronze medal contest was won by Takayama who submitted 20-year-old Abu Dhabi Grand Slam silver medallist Anna Maria Wagner (GER). Wagner lifted up her opponent with an uchi-mata but could not get enough purchase on the technique and that was the best attack from the young German. Takayama executed an intricate ne-waza turnover while maintaining control of the arm of her opponent and forced the submission with a ude-garami after 12 seconds.