Legend Naidan win first Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifier

At the Grand Prix in Hohhot Mongolian legend and world bronze medallist Naidan Tuvshinbayar won his first IJF gold medal since 2015 as he rolled back the years with a vintage display to once again prolong his career as an elite judoka.

Former Junior World Championships winner Ulziibayar Duurenbayar (MGL) opposed his country’s first ever Olympic champion, a man he idolised growing up, and the elder statesmen beat his hear apparent. Naidan last won an IJF World Judo Tour title in 2015 when he won in Qingdao and won his third Grand Prix gold by throwing Ulziibayar with an ippon seoi-nage for gold.

In the first semi-final Naidan threw Tashkent Grand Prix bronze medallist Oltiboev Bekmurod (UZB) with a ura-nage for ippon to move into the heavyweight final. In the second semi-final double Olympic bronze medallist Rafael Silva (BRA) was disqualified for three shidos against Ulziibayar Duurenbayar (MGL).

The first bronze medal was won by Silva who overpowered Antalya and Tbilisi silver medallist Javad Mahjoub (IRI) in added time to pin down the Iranian judoka for ippon.

The second bronze medal went to Oltiboev who defeated The Hague Grand Prix winner Roy Meyer (NED) by ippon. Uzbekistan’s first medal in Hohhot came in the penultimate contest of the Hohhot Grand Prix 2018 as Asian nations proved to be dominant on the final day.