Spanish World champion Nikoloz Sherazadishvili strikes
World number one Nikoloz Sherazadishvili of Spain captured his second Grand Prix gold medal with a nail-biting win over Osaka Grand Slam winner Mukai Shoichiro (JPN) in the U90kg final. Sherazadishvili, who previously topped a Grand Prix podium in Cancun in 2017, prepared for his upcoming title defence in Tokyo by beating one of his strongest challengers. Mukai had to settle for silver after having his ko-soto-gake countered for ippon.
In the first semi-final Sherazadishvili saw off Paris Grand Slam silver medallist Islam Bozbayev (KAZ) by ippon. In the second semi-final Mukai defeated world silver medallist Ivan Felipe Silva Morales (CUB) by a waza-ari score after two and a half minutes of golden score.
The first bronze medal was won by Silva Morales after former Junior World Championships silver medallist Robert Florentino (DOM) was given his third shido after 54 seconds of golden score for passivity.
The second bronze medal went to two-time World Judo Masters gold medallist Beka Gviniashvili (GEO) after Bozbayev was disqualified with three shidos to his name.
Result | City | Date |
---|---|---|
2 | Paris | 30 Jul |
1 | Abu Dhabi | 21 May |
1 | Zagreb | 26 Apr |
3 | Belgrade | 2023 |
2 | Montpellier | 2023 |