Sotaro Fujiwara closes in on Tokyo 2019 selection
World Championships silver medallist Fujiwara Sotaro (JPN) clinched his third Grand Slam title from four Grand Slam outings as he edged past World Judo Masters silver medallist Aslan Lappinagov (RUS) in the U81kg final. The Japanese judoka outworked his Russian rival who was penalised on three occasions and was therefore disqualified to gift the runaway leaders of the medal table their gold seventh medal in Düsseldorf.
In the first semi-final Paris Grand Slam winner Dominic Ressel (GER) was thrown by Fujiwara for a waza-ari score after two and a half minutes of golden score. In the second semi-final Lappinagov defeated Abu Dhabi Grand Slam silver medallist Matthias Casse (BEL) in golden score when the promising Belgium was disqualified after being penalised with this third shido.
The first bronze medal was won by Casse after Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medallist Anri Egutidze (POR) had to withdraw 67 seconds into golden score.
The second bronze medal went to Ressel who eventually saw off Tashkent Grand Prix silver medallist Nyamsuren Dagvasuren (MGL) after two minutes of golden score to win his country’s second medal at their home Grand Slam.
Result | City | Date |
---|---|---|
2 | Paris | 30 Jul |
1 | Abu Dhabi | 21 May |
1 | Zagreb | 26 Apr |
3 | Belgrade | 2023 |
2 | Montpellier | 2023 |