Toru Shishime repeats 2016 victory in Paris

Japanese judoka Shishime Toru won the Paris Grand Slam for the second time in his career after conquering World Judo Masters bronze medallist Sharafuddin Lutfillaev (UZB) in the first men’s final of the 2018 instalment of this renowned competition.

Toru Shishime was coached by former world silver medallist Kanamaru Yusuke who is currently on a one-year sabbatical in Cardiff with the Welsh Judo Association. Kanamaru, who coached Ono Shohei (JPN) to Olympic and world gold, had his suit on from the morning as he showed his confidence in his latest charges. Shishime went ahead with a hopping ouchi-gari for a waza-ari score and utilised the same technique for a second waza-ari to take the -60kg title.

In the first semi-final Shishime defeated Zagreb Grand Prix winner and 10-time Grand Slam medallist Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) in golden score when the latter received a direct hansoku-make for a dangerous action as he attempted ouchi-gari from the wrong side. In the second semi-final Lutfillaev beat Cancun Grand Prix silver medallist Phelipe Pelim (BRA) by ippon with a magical piece of ashi-waza from a secondary attack.

The first bronze medal contest was won by former European bronze medallist Ashley Mckenzie who threw Pelim with a textbook low left-sided tai-otoshi after just 21 seconds.

The second bronze medal contest saw Ekaterinburg Grand Slam bronze medallist Cedric Revol (FRA) receive the plaudits and admiration of the crowd as his would be opponent, Papinashvili of Georgia, was directly disqualified in his previous contest and therefore was unable to take to the tatami.