Madina Taimazova surprises Arai and herself with Grand Slam victory

Kazan's Grand Slam saw a surprise in the semi finals for women U70kg. If the two Japanese women who competed on the first day of competition fulfilled their contract perfectly by winning the gold medals, the story was not the same for Arai Chizuru.

From the start of the preliminary rounds, Arai showed weaknesses, unable to conclude her contests rapidly. It was not a good sign and everything was confirmed in the semi-final, as she bowed out to Madina Taimazova (RUS), strongly encouraged by her audience. The latter found in her way, for a last confrontation, the German Giovanna Scoccimarro, third at the World Judo Masters last January.

The final presented several faces. The first was that of a Taimazova, bent in two, waiting for the counter-attack, but remaining dynamic. Then it was Scoccimarro's turn to be dangerous, while the Russian lost energy, in attacks that were sometimes a little desperate and lacking in finish. The time of golden score had come. We continued to observe a match with a somewhat peculiar physiognomy, made up of power on the German side and varying sensations on the Russian side. However, nothing happened, Scoccimarro remaining empty-handed with all her attacks, as Taimazova seemed to be able to escape everything, thanks to her flexibility. After more than four minutes of golden score, a strong attack by Scoccimarro, from which Taimazova miraculously escaped, to launch an attack that offered the first gold medal for the Russian women's team in Kazan. There is talent in this young woman.

In the first match for a bronze medal, we found two great regulars on the world circuit, Anna Bernholm (SWE), already holder of 5 grand slam medals and Maria Portela (BRA), winner of the Tbilisi Grand Slam in March, but it was Anna Bernholm who added one new medal to her prize list. As only a few seconds remained on the scoreboard and everything looked blocked, the Swedish fighter counter-attacked a last drop seoi-nage attempt from the Brazilian.

Hilde Jager (NED) is still young and she is already showing a great ability to advance in the big tournaments of the world circuit. She was integrated in the match for the bronze medal against Arai Chizuru (JPN), who was expected at a better position here in Russia. Jager started the match at a high pace, imposing her strength and it paid off as she scored a nice waza-ari, which she thought for a moment was ippon. Losing her concentration, the Dutch judoka was then thrown with a massive Japanese-style uchi-mata, that gave her no chance. Arai comes back home with a medal and for sure a lot of questions but no real answer in her mind. 

1996 Olympic Champion Udo Quellmalz reacted: Madina Taimazova really impressed me, who won in U70kg, is always looking tired, on the edge of breaking down and then suddenly she produces movement that no-one sees coming. She defeated Arai, which is really something and once again in the final she won. This young generation is very promising and I'm looking forward the last day of competition in Kazan. I was a bit surprised by the unexpectedly poor performance of Arai at -70kg. I mean, poor is relative, because she finished third. That was definitely not what she was hoping for though. I'm sure that she will now go back to work and adjust what needs to be adjusted and then arrive in Tokyo at full capacity.