Yeldos Smetov takes gold and congratulates countryman Imashev in final

What a tremendous domination by Kazakhstan at the Judo Grand Prix of Budapest. Gold and silver for the lightweights of the host country for the forthcoming World Championships in Astana. The winner was Yeldos Smetov who defeated his compatriot Aibek Imashev. Smetov was the star man U60kg utilising an ashi-waza to score a yuko and added a waza-ari with sutemi-waza before a second waza-ari sealed the victory.

After winning an engaging final between two willing judoka, Smetov raised the hand of Imashev in order for the crowd to appreciate the efforts of his teammate on day one. In the first semi-final Imashev saw off Lutfillaev Sharafuddin (UZB) by a waza-ari score while in the second semi-final Smetov defeated Dusseldorf Grand Prix winner Shishime Toru (JPN). Smetov prevailed with a waza-ari from sutemi-waza to take his place in the final. Semtov is the #7 of the World Championships in 2013 and can be a serious outsider for the world title this year in his own country. In 2014 won he the Asian Games title and the victory at the GP Astana.

The first bronze medal was claimed by Shishime who defeated the emerging Spanish Junior world champion Francisco Garrigos. Both judoka are establishing themselves in the category and will be boosted by their experience in Budapest. Only one judoka could win the right to step onto the podium and that went to the Japanese judoka by a solitary shido penalty in a scoreless contest. The second bronze medal went to Lutfillaev who saw off Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Tsai Ming Yen (TPE) as he employed ashi-waza to register a waza-ari score which was the only score in a fast-paced contest.