Or Sasson sets Israel on fire with home victory

Olympic bronze medallist Or Sasson ended the historic first IJF event in Israel on a high for the hosts as the heavyweight maestro won the last final of the competition. Sasson defeated The Hague Grand Prix winner Yakiv Khammo (UKR) in golden score to win Israel’s fourth Grand Prix gold medal and to make sure his country finished out of sight at the top of the medal table.

Israel won four gold medals, two silver and one bronze to mark the historic season opener with a dominant display which showed the world the power of Israeli judo and the national governing body’s incredible capacity to deliver a world-class sporting masterpiece.

In the first semi-final Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Bekmurod Oltiboev (UZB) lost out to Khammo by ippon from an o-uchi-gari while Sasson bested world silver medallist Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) in the other semi-final with a ko-uchi-gake for ippon.

The first bronze medal was won by Agadir Grand Prix silver medallist Anton Krivobokov (RUS) over Kokauri with a harai-makikomi after just 21 seconds. The second bronze medal went to Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Aliaksandr Vakhaviak (BLR) who upset Oltiboev by ippon as the Uzbek finished fifth to match his result from the 2018 World Championships.

The host nation finished first ahead of Italy (two gold, three silver, one bronze) and France who secured two gold medals and one bronze.

Israel won four gold medals, two silver and one bronze to mark the historic season opener with a dominant display which showed the world the power of Israeli judo and the national governing body’s incredible capacity to deliver a world-class sporting masterpiece.