Riki Nakaya takes easy games in Tokyo Grand Slam

Olympic silver medallist and former world champion Nakaya Riki was the star of the day in the U73kg category. The crowd favourite overcome Rijeka Grand Prix winner Bang Gui-Man (KOR) in the final. Nakaya clinched the gold medal in 71 seconds after a rapid series of exchanges which started with an juji-gatame attempt which was defended by the South Korean but his Japanese rival kept the action flowing as he utilised his full arsenal. Nakaya switched from yoko-shiho-gatame to kami-shiho-gatame to keep Bang on his back on the tatami for the full 20 seconds.

The Japanese star booked his place in the final by scoring a yuko from a drop seoi-nage and ippon from an osoto-gari at the expense of Moscow Grand Slam runner-up Denis Iartcev (RUS).

In the second semi-final Bang outlasted European champion Rok Draksic of Slovenia as the tightly-contested bout was settled in golden score when the latter was penalised for removing his rivals grip with both hands. The first bronze medal was clinched by Draksic who prepared for the competition by training at Yong In University in South Korea. The Slovenian judoka scored a waza-ari from a ko-soto-gake which was the only score registered in the five minute contest. The second bronze medal was won by losing semi-finalist Iartcev who subdued former world champion Khashbaatar Tsagaanbaatar (MGL) with a juji-gatame. Both judoka adopted a low posture and the Russian turned his Mongolian opponent over while holding his arm to lock on the juji-gatame.