Adlan Bisultanov aiming for the number one position in Russia U100kg

In the final of the Grand Prix of Antalya U100kg Adlan Bisultanov of Russia took the initiative and the victory. His opponent, former World Champion Maxim Rakov was penalised with a shido for passivity after the first minute. Halfway to the end with a superb tai-otoshi, Bisultanov scored a first waza-ari.

Both athletes entered the last minute with one more shido as they were escaping from gripping one another. A few seconds before the end, Bisultanov received a second penalty but he just had to control until the final going to enjoy his victory.

Being 31 years old, Maxim Rakov (KAZ) is already a veteran of the World Judo Tour. The Kazakh was World Champion, but it was already eight years ago (Rotterdam 2009). World silver medalist in Paris in 2011, he also won the 2012 edition of the World Masters. With a record of 13 medals he also won on the occasion of international events, he is one of the most decorated athlete in his category. And still, he is looking for some more victories. In the final he was opposed to Adlan Bisultanov (RUS), who is a little bit younger than Rakov and also counts 11 medals on the circuit.

The first bronze medal contest opposed another former World Champion, Elkhan Mammadov (AZE) (Rio 2013) and the world bronze medallist (Chelyabinsk 2014), Ivan Remarenco (UAE). The first ko-soto-gake attack of Mammadov scored a waza-ari after a few seconds on the edge of the competition area, but then he was penalised for a defensive attitude with a shido. Despite that penalty, the match continued on a high rhythm giving the feeling that it will not reach the four minutes. When Remarenco launched his next attack, he did not really put his opponent out of balance and the sanction was immediate as Mammadov bent his knees and engaged a low counter attack, but as the impact was clearly on the back with force, speed and control, the referee announced IPPON. Bronze for Mammadov.

The second bronze medal contest saw Soyib Kurbonov (UZB) and Niyaz Ilyasov (RUS) go face to face for a spot on the podium. In less than a minute, Ilyasov countered the first main attack of Kurbonov for a waza-ari, which he immediately followed on the floor with an immobilisation for ippon after he could free his leg, and a first medal on a Grand Prix for the Russian.

Bisultanov will gain a few places in the World Ranking, he is now followed by Kazbek Zankishiev and Kirill Denisov. Niyaz Ilyasov will follow soon.