An Chang-Rim shows his potential against Muki

Junior world champion An Chang-Rim from Korea produced a sublime performance on the biggest stage of his blossoming career as he delighted his home crowd. AN defeated the top seed and Baku Grand Slam winner Sagi Muki (ISR) in the final having bested two Mongolian’s Khashbaatar and Ganbaatar in his route to the final.

MUKI, who finished second at the Astana Grand Prix a month ago, fell behind to a waza-ari but responded with the same score against AN who was aiming for his first IJF medal on the senior stage. AN settled the fate of the gold medal by throwing beautifully with a tai-otoshi and will now look forward to testing himself in Tokyo next week. 

In the first semi-final MUKI defeated Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Rustam ORUJOV (AZE) in golden score. MUKI was able to take his place in the final after scoring waza-ari 39 seconds into added time as his conditioning showed. In the second semi-final AN produced another notable win against the seasoned Qingdao Grand Prix runner-up Dirk VAN TICHELT (BEL).

The first bronze medal was clinched by VAN TICHELT as the medal podium eluded Port Luis African Open winner Nick DELPOPOLO (USA). Belgium’s former world bronze medallist scored a waza-ari with a drop seoi-nage to capture the first bronze medal as DELPOPOLO was unable to trouble the scoreboard. The second bronze medal was destined for Azerbaijian as ORUJOV bested Asian Games silver medallist GANBAATAR Odbayar (MGL) on shido penalties with two against the Mongolian and one against the former for passivity.