Toma Nikiforov finally takes the gold medal in Paris

It was an exciting final U100kg at the Grand Slam of Paris. Despite the little number of competitors, it did have a strong quality field as in U100kg anything can happen. Paltchik was back at this old form and then he can conquer the world but Toma Nikiforov of Belgium was in top shape. Always strong names as winners, former Olympic Champions as Krpalek and Naidan and legends like Maret and Liparteliani won this epic weight category in Paris.

There were the old acquaintances, the battle-hardened veterans and the newcomers. There were Toma Nikiforov, Michael Korrel and Peter Paltchik, to give three examples and there was Joris Agbégnénou and Nikoloz Sherazadishvili; a lot of muscle for a single gold medal. The old guard won, as if they wanted to claim something, a right to longevity and closed the door to the Japanese and French. The final was a match between two heavily scarred judoka, Belgian and professional soldier Toma Nikiforov and Israeli Peter Paltchik; a great looking final.

It was immediately apparent that they respected each other. It was a tactical fight, a kumi-kata fight. The golden score period arrived with two shido for Paltchik and one for Nikiforov. Something exceptional happened though: a simultaneous attack and both thought they had won, but the Israeli used the head and neck to drive his attempt and was logically eliminated. Toma Nikiforov captured that precious gold medal.

Muzaffarbek Turboyev had a good day. He first smashed Sherazadishvili in 30 seconds and then later won bronze by doing more or less the same thing with Dutch veteran Michael Korrel. The other bronze went to the Japanese Kentaro Iida, who defeated the Brazilian Rafael Buzacarini.

The second vitory for Paltchik symbolic for his comeback and for sure he will take back the taste in Tel Aviv where he is of course the favourite to book a back-to-back victory in the IJF World Tour.