Unconventional but highly-effective Yondonperenlei is off the mark for Mongolia

Hohhot Grand Prix bronze medallist Yondonperenlei Baskhuu of Mongolia utilised the full trickery of his unorthodox style to outwit a stellar field in the U66kg category. World number 73 Yondonperenlei now has two medals from his two Grand Prix in this weight category after dispatching Hohhot Grand Prix winner Yakub Shamilov (RUS) by ippon.

Yondonperenlei  scored from an usual hold down where he had control of the belt and shoulder of the Russian and remained there unshaken for 20 seconds to give the Mongolian fans licence to display their flag with their unsurpassed level of devotion and pride.

In the first semi-final Shamilov saw off Cancun Grand Prix silver medallist Alberto Gaitero Martin (ESP) by a waza-ari score in golden score as Russian team manager Ezio Gamba watched on from his matside position. In the second semi-final Yondonperenlei held down world number 60 Ghassem Nourizadeh (IRI) with a yoko-shiho-gatame for 20 seconds. All-action Yondonperenlei threw for a waza-ari with a pure te-waza movement before promptly trapping his opponent with osaekomi-waza.

The first bronze medal was won by Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist Islam Khametov (RUS) who conquered Nourizadeh who was in the final block for the first time. Nourizadeh, who finished seventh at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam last month, had to submit to a juji-gatame 90 seconds into the contest as Russian Khametov was forceful and fast in his application.

The second bronze medal went to Gaitero Martin after world number 29 Kenneth Van Gansbeke (BEL) received his third and final shido for dropping two minutes into golden score. Spaniard Gaitero Martin will jump up the rankings from 35th place after winning his second Grand Prix medal since becoming a regular on the IJF World Judo Tour in 2017.