Strong women claim the gold medals at Grand Slam Baku

At the opening day of the Grand Slam in Baku home athlete Balabay Aghayev (AZE) started with a gold medal for the home nation. In the final he caught Dilshot Khalmatov (UKR) and claimed the podium. His compatriot Karamat Huseynov (AZE) took the bronze medal. Tsogt-Ochir Byambajav (MGL) won the second bronze, European Champion Francisco Garrigós (ESP) was defeated for bronze.

Top Moldovan judoka Denis Vieru (MDA) bagged the gold another time. After World bronze in Tashkent and gold medals in Portugal, Antalya and Tbilisi he claimed the victory again. In the final he overcame Mulorajab Khalifaev (TJK). One of the home favourites Orkhan Safarov (AZE) picked up a bronze medal as well as Spaniard David García Torne. Strahinja Buncic (SRB) came close again but stranded with a fifth place.

In the women’s division it was the French favouruite Shirine Boukli (FRA) who won the gold medal. Boukli defeated Francesca Milani (ITA) in the final in Baku. Lightweights Marusa Stangar (SLO) and Milica Nikolic (SRB) took the bronze medals.

The division U52kg was this time for Diyora Keldiyorova (UZB) who left the tatami in Abi Dhabi after her frustrating silver medal but took revenge this time with gold. The 24 year old defeated Sosorbaram Lkhagvasuren (MGL) in the final. Another Uzbek Sita Kadambaeva (UZB) took bronze as well as Odette Giuffrida (ITA) who comes more and more in shape. Also for Ody it was her second medal in a row.

Canada’s former World Champion Christa Deguchi (CAN) is back in the scene and with a Baku Grand Slam gold medal she impressed again. Deguchi had a tough match against Portuguese veteran Telma Monteiro (POR) who needed a success after her shoulder injury and some backdrafts, but despite the gold for Deguchi also Monteiro can look back after a successful day in Baku. Bulgarian Ivelina Ilieva (BUL) took bronze. Nora Gjakova (KOS) lost to Lele Nairne (GBR) in the quarter final but came back in the repechage and took bronze afterall. Lele Nairne and Mina Libeer were close but lost their bronze medal bout.