Giyosjon Boboev defeats Tommy Macias in Tbilisi final U73kg

The final of the second day at the Grand Prix in Tbilisi opposed the two top seed athletes of the category, Tommy Macias of Sweden and Uzbek Giyosjon Boboev After a bit more than a minute, both athletes had already confirmed that they were the best of the day, as both had scored a waza-ari.

The Uzbek added a second waza-ari with an immobilisation after Macias made a big mistake and literally offered the score to his opponent. The Swedish kept believing that he could score again, but despite his willingness had to concede the victory to Boboev, after what can be called an amazing fight. Having already two Grand Prix medals, with bronze in Tashkent 2015, and silver in Tashkent 2016, the Uzbek this time claimed on top of the podium. Those three medal can be added to the two Grand Slam medals that Boboev already owned.

The first bronze medal opposed Uali Kurzhev (RUS) and the winner of the 2016 Pan-American Championships, Arthur Margelidon (CAN). With no medal on the international circuit, Margelidon, was hoping for a positive result this time, but this was not Khurzev ’s idea who threw the Canadian with a counterattack and a first waza-ari. After both athletes were penalised, the Russian accelerated a tiny bit the rhythm, enough to bring the Canadian down and immobilise him, but only for a few seconds as Margelidon, having a rib injury, tapped and offered the bronze medal to Kurzhev.

In the second bronze medal fight, Zhansay Smagulov (KAZ) faced Tato Grigalashvili (GEO). Suddenly the audience woke up, ready to cheer up for their local athlete. After one minute and a half, Smagulov launched a first strong drop-seoi-nage for a waza-ari. Today the support of the public was not enough to push Grigalashvili. For sure, the 17 year-old Georgian, who is just coming out of the Cadet age division tried his best and can dream about a bright future, but today, Smagulov was too strong and sent him again on his back with a rough o-uchi-gari for ippon. The enthusiastic public mutually applauded for its athlete and for the beautiful judo produced by Smagulov.