Worlds-bound Guram Tushishvili topples the heavyweight field

Tbilisi Grand Prix winner Guram Tushishvili of Georgia won his second Grand Prix gold medal this year with a mesmerising display as he won four of his five contests by ippon to add to his growing reputation and hopes of capturing his first world title in September.

The Tower of Tbilisi opposed Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Or Sasson (ISR) in the final and raced past the Israeli powerhouse by ippon with an opportunistic tani-otoshi after 91 seconds. Tushishvili, 23, finished fifth on his senior Worlds debut last year, but is a year wiser and stronger now and based on this showing his judo is maturing. Sasson, 27, also has world ambitions and will be a contender to step onto a podium at the crown jewel of the IJF World Judo Tour for the first time at the end of September.

In the first semi-final former world bronze medallist Yakiv Khammo (UKR) slipped to defeat against Tushishvili (GEO) by a waza-ari which was the only score in an entertaining contest. In the second semi-final Sasson benefited from an error-strewn showing by Pan American Championships bronze medallist Ruan Isquierdo (BRA) who was penalised three times to receive hansoku-make.

The first bronze medal was won by Antalya Grand Prix winner Inal Tasoev (RUS) in just seven seconds as the highly-rated Russian launched Isquierdo with a gigantic sode for ippon.

The second bronze medal went to Khammo who beat European Championships bronze medallist Stephan Hegyi (AUT). Ukraine’s Khammo broke the deadlock with an osoto-makikomi for a waza-ari score and held down the young Austrian to seal his place on the podium.