Rishod Sobirov stands up in the last moment at Grand Prix Tashkent

Rishod Sobirov had to use all his skills to please the home crowd at the Grand Prix of Tashkent. Finally Sobirov wins a important World Tour medal again after being so successful in the U60 category for years, now he seems to be back U66kg now when it comes to qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games.

He is definitely the star in Uzbekistan. Two-time world champion and Olympic medallist, Rishod Sobirov couldn’t please his public more than by entering the final against Altansukh Dovdon (MGL). The final was a perfect example of the opposition of two different styles: the Mongolian proposing strength when Sobirov tried to apply his technique, which he could for the first time after 3:45 which a superb left handed uchi-mata for waza-ari. Sobirov doubled the score a few seconds later with a counter attack. The public could finally celebrate their champion.

The first bronze medal fight saw Dzmitry Shershan (BLR) opposed to Sugoi Uriarte (ESP). None of the athletes looked really in the position to score until Uriarte held his opponent with an immobilization for waza-ari and then scored a yuko with a sumi-gaeshi at the limit of the fighting area. The two Russian athletes were engaged in the second bronze medal fight of the men’s -66kg, Anzaur Ardanov (RUS) and Denis Laventiev (RUS), the second wining the medal against his teammate with an immobilization for ippon.