Ryuju Nagayama wins at Grand Prix debut

Nagayama Ryuju of Japan put on a masterclass in the U60kg category as he won gold at his first Grand Prix event. Former world number one Nagayama, 22, powered to the summit of the category with three Grand Slam gold medals but has recently been replaced by world champion Takato Naohisa who is still world number one.

Düsseldorf Grand Slam gold medallist Nagayama went unbeaten in Budapest as he won all five of his contests to contribute to Japan’s sensational opening day. The Tokai University member threw Hohhot Grand Prix bronze medallist Albert Oguzov (RUS) for a waza-ari score with an ippon seoi-nage and moved straight into osaekomi-waza from which the Russian immediately tapped out.

In the first semi-final Nagayama defeated Cancun Grand Prix winner Francisco Garrigos (ESP) as he come from behind and escaped a hold down to win by ippon. In the second semi-final Düsseldorf Grand Slam runner-up Robert Mshvidobadze (RUS) lost to compatriot Oguzov by ippon.

The first bronze medal was won by Mshvidobadze after Tbilisi Grand Prix winner Lukhumi Chkhvimiani (GEO) picked up his third shido in golden score. There was nothing to separate them in regulation time and golden score also failed to produce a score but Mshvidobadze will not be concerned by the manner of the win having earned a vital medal.

The second bronze medal went to Tbilisi Grand Prix silver medallist Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) who threw Garrigos for ippon. Papinashvili countered the young Spaniard for the maximum score to win his country’s first medal at the Budapest Grand Prix 2018.