Tal Flicker helps Israel to historic day in World Tour

Four-time Grand Slam winner Takajo Tomofumi of Japan could not make it to five on Friday as he succumb to Düsseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Tal Flicker of Israel in golden score. World number 21 Takajo was not at his explosive best as he went through the gears and into golden score against Flicker were both judoka had a shido on their records with no scores after four minutes.

Takajo, who needed to win and win well to put his name into contention for a Worlds spot, was penalised with a shido for passivity in golden score and that error saw the contest and gold medal awarded to Flicker.

In the first semi-final Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Nijat Shikhalizada (AZE) was bested by Takajo. After one minute of golden score Takajo caught the home judoka with a rapid ko-uchi-gari for ippon and a place in the final. In the second semi-final Flicker downed u23 European Championships winner Denis Vieru (MDA) to book a place in the final.

The first bronze medal was won by world number 275 Lasha Giunashvili (GEO) as 21-year-old Vieru let out a scream of frustration at the end of the four minutes. The Georgian opened his IJF World Judo Tour medal account by forcing over his Moldovan opponent with a te-waza movement to complete a highly-successful first Grand Slam outing while it is only a matter of time until Vieru steps into an IJF podium.

The second bronze medal went to Zagreb Grand Prix silver medallist Baruch Shmailov (ISR) who shut out Shikhalizada and ended up a convincing winner by three waza-ari scores which went unanswered. The crowd rooted for their Azeri ace Shikhalizada but Shmailov was in top form as Israel were heavily involved in final block on day one.

Toru Shishime doubles his golden Grand Slam haul for Japan

Former Paris Grand Slam winner Shishime Toru of Japan was unmatched in Baku as he won U60kg gold to stand on top spot at a Grand Slam medal podium for the second time. Tashkent Grand Prix winner Mukhriddin Tilovov (UZB) was an unexpected finalist as he opposed the Japanese in a first time encounter. World number 29 Shishime countered his opponent for a waza-ari and then added a waza-ari from an uchi-mata with 27 seconds left.

In the first semi-final world number 73 Gusman Kyrgyzbayev (KAZ) lost to world bronze medallist Shishime Toru (JPN) after receiving hansoku-make for a head dive. The Kazakh was a waza-ari down with 13 seconds left and received his marching orders for diving onto this head to evade landing on his back. In the second semi-final Tashkent Grand Prix winner Mukhriddin Tilovov (UZB) profited from Abu Dhabi Grand Prix silver medallist Eric Takabatake (BRA) receiving a third shido in golden score to be disqualified with hansoku-make.

The first bronze medal was won by number one seed Orkhan Safarov (AZE) - his fourth Grand Slam medal - by holding down Takabatake. The Azeri delivered for the home faithful as he took the lead with a waza-ari and pinned down the Brazilian with a mune-gatame and the pressure was so immense that Takabatake tapped out.

The second bronze medal was won by Madrid European Open silver medallist Yanislav Gerchev (BUL) from a gigantic ura-nage against Kyrgyzbayev after 66 seconds of golden score. That moment of magic was worth the wait for the Bulgarian who is finally off the mark on the IJF World Judo Tour.

Brazilian Stefannie Arissa Koyama takes jackpot at IJF debut

Grand Slam rookie Stefannie Arissa Koyama of Brazil was the star of the U48kg category as the IJF World Judo Tour debutant won all four contests for a debut to remember. The 21-year-old still lives in her native Japan where she is in her final year of University. Brazilian pocket rocket Koyama had the style and frenetic pace which is associated with Japanese judoka and picked off her bewildered opponents. The young finalist scored a waza-ari from a ko-soto-gari and added a second from a ko-soto-gake to become a new face in the category for a new Olympic cycle with a confident win over the favourite Milica Nikolic (SRB).

In the first semi-final Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Milica Nikolic (SRB) defeated former Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Shira Rishony (ISR) by a waza-ari. In the second semi-final Rio 2016 Olympian Taciana Cesar (GBS) fell to Koyama. Brazil-born Cesar went behind to a waza-ari from an explosive movement from the young Brazilian who immediately applied the osaekomi and the former tapped out after 12 seconds.

The first bronze medal contest was won by Düsseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Noa Minsker (ISR) who defeated veteran Cesar, 33, with a waza-ari which came with 15 seconds left. Minsker, who was off with a reverse seoi-nage attempt in the first exchange, drove the African champion over finally with a morote-seoi-nage and Cesar was unable to find a reply in the closing seconds. Israel’s Minsker will now continue her accelerated ascension up the rankings having followed her Düsseldorf podium with a first career Grand Slam medal.

The second bronze medal was won by Rishony after World Judo Masters bronze medallist Maryna Cherniak (UKR) received a direct hansoku-make for a waki-gatame. The Ukrainian led by a waza-ari from a sumi-gaeshi but was disqualified for the aforementioned illegal move in the closing seconds to send Rishony onto the podium.