Tomofumi Takajo reigns as Tokyo Grand Slam

World Judo Masters silver medallist Takajo Tomofumi (JPN) bested Brazilian world number four Charles Chibana in the -66kg final in Tokyo as the hosts’ grip of the competition was tightened even further. 21-year-old Takajo topped the medal podium after Chibana lost focus and was penalised with a shido for passivity after three minutes which was the difference at the end of the contest.

Takajo won his semi-final against Dimitri Dragin (FRA) on shido penalties as the European Championships bronze medallist received two for passivity while his opponent had an unblemished record. At the same stage Chibana held off world number three David Larose with a yuko separating the rivals after five minutes of absorbing action.  

The first bronze medal was won by Larose who narrowly defeated World Championships bronze medallist Fukuoka Masaaki (JPN) to the frustration of the Japanese fans who were engrossed as the home fighter stalked Larose around the tatami in the closing moments. The Frenchman was first off the mark with a yuko from a sumi-gaeshi only to regress and receive a shido after three minutes for passivity. Larose wanted to slow the pace down but that worked against him as he received two further shido penalties in the last minute. Fukuoka was bitterly unlucky as the desperate Larose just managed to avoid a fourth shido in the last 15 seconds. The second bronze medal contest also featured France against hosts Japan and it was the latter who triumphed as MIYAZAKI Ren (JPN) outgunned Dimitri Dragin in a lung-busting contest which was settled in the third minute of golden score. Both judoka had a shido to their name for passivity after five minutes and so the contest went required golden score where Miyazaki prevailed after two further minutes of combat as a ko-uchi-gari earned him a waza-ari score.