Tashiro becomes three-time Masters winner with Japan’s fourth gold in Russia

Tokyo Grand Slam winner Tashiro Miku ended the year unbeaten on the IJF World Judo Tour with a win over teammate Nabekura Nami (JPN) in the U63kg final. In a rematch of the Tokyo Grand Slam final.

Tashiro, who is still only 23, emerged victorious after 43 seconds of golden score with a textbook uchi-mata as former Junior world champion Nabekura, 20, had to settle for silver in the last contest on day one of the World Judo Masters 2017. Tashiro was left out of the Japan’s team for the World Championships but to her credit has done everything in her power to stake her claim for such selections after winning the Hohhot Grand Prix, Tokyo Grand Slam and now the World Masters.

In the first semi-final world champion Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA) lost to Tashiro for the first time in her career having won their five previous meetings. After four and a half minutes of golden score Tashiro caught Agbegnenou with an ouchi-gari for ippon to book an all-Japanese final.

In the second semi-final former Tashkent Grand Prix winner Daria Davydova (RUS) was held down by Nabekura with a yoko-shiho-gatame for ippon.  

In the first bronze medal contest The Hague Grand Prix winner Juul Franssen (NED) defeated home judoka Davydova who picked up a shido after two minutes of golden score for a false attack in a scoreless contest as the Netherlands were off the mark in St. Petersburg.             

The second bronze medal contest saw Agbegnenou defeat world bronze medallist Baldorj Mungunchimeg (MGL) in a comfortable win by two waza-ari scores without reply. Two-time and reigning world champion Agbegnenou was making her first appearance on the IJF World Judo Tour since Budapest 2017 and it will come as a shock to many that the Frenchwoman was engaged in World Judo Masters competition for the very first time in her illustrious career.

It was Agbegnenou won captured the bonus of 50,000 USD in the end closing the year as world number one.

Read all the news about the IJF World Masters in St. Petersburg.