Second consecutive gold for Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir

For the second consecutive final, Canada was present, with a fine performance from Arthur Margelidon. It must be said, once again, that the Canadian is not really a stranger. Seeded number one in Tbilisi, he finished in a good third place in Budapest in 2020. This time, Margelidon is moving up a gear. In the final he found Tsend-Ochir Tsogtbaatar (MGL), already a winner in Tashkent two weeks ago, who in the semi-final had shattered the gold medal hopes of Kosovan judoka Akil Gjakova (KOS).

This was an interesting final, with some very good attacks from the Canadian, even if he always looks like engaging with a slow motion seoi-nage, only controlling the end of the sleeve, but with some very impressive escapes from the Mongolian. With two shido beside his name, Tsend-Ochir looked a little behind, when he suddenly engaged with a ko-uchi-gari that scored a waza-ari. Tsend-Ochir then just had to keep control for a few more seconds and pay attention to not receive a third shido, to win a second grand slam in a row.

In the first match for a bronze medal, it was an old acquaintance of Georgian fans and of the judo world who stepped on the tatami. Lasha Shavdatuashvili is none other than the London 2012 Olympic champion and Rio 2016 bronze medallist and he still has the motivation to win medals. In front of him, Akil Gjakova (KOS), winner of the Budapest Grand Prix in 2019 and who wants to continue to prove that Kosovo is also becoming a nation that matters for men, but after receiving a third shido, Gjakova was defeated, offering the medal to Georgia and Shavdatuashvili.

The second Georgian present in the final block is part of the young generation of athletes who already have their feet in the doorway and who intend to rush into the breach to inscribe their name in the pantheon of renowned Georgian competitors in the years to come. Aleko Mamiashvili (GEO) was up against the thirty-something, experienced Russian Denis Iartcev. After a very exciting match, where both athletes scored waza-ari, eventually Aleko Mamiashvili could get closer to Iartcev to introduce an o-uchi-gari, driven all the way to the floor with perfect control of the upper body and a perfect and clear ippon.