Matthias Casse closes best year ever with gold

World silver medallist Matthias Casse of Belgium won World Judo Masters gold after an impressive day in Qingdao. The 22-year-old became his country’s first Masters winner after a rematch of the World Championships final was not to be today with world champion Sagi Muki (ISR) picking up a rib injury during his semi-final.

In the first semi-final Muki bested former world bronze medallist Vedat Albayrak (TUR) as he launched the Turkish judoka for ippon on the edge of the area but appeared to injure himself in the process as he held his ribs after returning to his feet.

In the second semi-final Casse saw off Abu Dhabi Grand Slam bronze medallist Dominic Ressel (GER) after five minutes of golden score by a single waza-ari and left the tatami having given everything to book a place in the final.

Khubetsov's ashi waza

The first bronze medal was won by world number 14 Alan Khubetsov (RUS) who beautifully caught Ressel with a perfectly timed piece of ashi-waza after two minutes of golden score. Russia’s Khubetsov finally executed a de-ashi-barai, after numerous unsuccessful attempts in regulation time, and Ressel was caught for one of the throws of the day.

The second bronze medal went to Albayrak who caught Antalya Grand Prix silver medallist Christian Parlati (ITA) with an o-uchi-gari in golden score as both men ended up going through the cardboard advertising boards.