Hifumi Abe defeats Joshiro Maruyama in final U66kg

The men’s final U66kg of the World Championships in Tashkent delivered an expected final. The clash between Joshiro Maruyama and Hifumi Abe. Abe is now the benchmark and Maruyama is the only one who knows how to beat him and it that took a mental toll on Maruyama. It was an opportunity to see how the world champion managed to overtake the Olympic champion and turn the odds on their head.

The judo fans were delighted for such a final, as this type of final at this level can only happen in the world championships. The present home crowd applauded Abe and gave much more for Maruyama. They had chosen their favourite while respecting the rival. Abe used his power and Maruyama used his agility. Abe racked up two shido very early on, Maruyama had one. An advantage for Maruyama, forced Abe to attack and that's what he did and he scored waza-ari to get the gold medal. Abe seems just that bit better, at least in the moments that count and that allows him to be a three-time world champion. This is his time, this is Abe's supremacy.

Maruyama entered the tournament like a bullet, took it more calmly in the second round, to accelerate again and sweep everyone out of his way to the semi-finals. The Maruyama uchi-mata against Willian Lima and then again with the adjustment of grip with Margvelashvili. From sleeve and lapel with one to the high collar with the other, he delivered a powerful throw which he plants like no-one else can, controlling the shoulders to the mat to guarantee his score. It’s the work of a judo magician.

He was steady as always and as a non-seeded player he walked through the preliminaries. An attractive clash of styles was against Vazha Margvelashvili who likes to be in contact with his opponents. Despite Margvelashvili's style, the Japanese employed his legs in the air to lift his rival from the tatami. Maruyama is an artist, his judo is more beautiful than Abe's, more creative, but also effective. Not even the Korean An Baul was able to put the Japanese in trouble.

World number one Denis Vieru was in shape but his tournament began in the quarter-finals against current European champion, Ukrainian Bogdan Iadov. He had a tough contest because it is never easy at this stage of a world championship. The semi-final against Abe was to be the real test.

Bronze medallist Denis Vieru is a phenomenon, with even more class than Abe, but the Japanese is much more powerful. In fact his main characteristic is that strength on which he bases his victories. Abe won by waza-ari and it was neither unfair nor scandalous. Vieru had a fantastic fight with Abe too and pushed right to the end. He’s at a great level and although he so often misses tiny things to keep him from going to the finals he is still so sharp and can always be relied upon for good judo. His throw on the bell for the bronze medal was a real master stroke and proved his class again.

Bronze for An and Vieru

An Baul took the bronze U66kg after beating the Italian Elios Manzi but the fight was frankly boring; neither scored and it ended when the Italian conceded a third shido. Second day for Italy with a fifth place, but in this wealth of top judo it’s a compliment for the Italian team where medals weren’t calculated.

The second bronze battle was between Vieru and Margvelashvili, the first two in the world ranking. It was a kumi-kata match, an exceptional tactical fight between two great judoka. With one second to go, one tiny second, Vieru uncovered the box of tricks, magician that he is, to score waza-ari. Four Japanese gold medals out of four possible is called perfection.

In the prelims it was really great to see Emomali (TJK), current junior world champion, push Hifumi Abe. It surprised Abe but we love to see these young ones fighting for their lives.

Elios Manzi (ITA) was a big surprise today and fully in the spirit of the other Italians so far in the tournament and went all the way to the bronze medal match. He deserved a reward for a really huge effort against many of the best in the world. He may be one to look forward to in the years to come.