Thrilling final U60kg won by Kazach Magzhan Shamshadin

In the U60kg final in Kazachstan, Cedric Revol (FRA) initially got a score of waza-ari when he came in for a drop seoi-nage and his opponent, Shamshadin pulled him backwards. The score was over-ruled. Later, he came in with a drop seoi-nage again and this time, Shamshadin managed to pull off a daki-wakare for waza-ari to win the gold medal.

Things were not easy for Cédric Revol (FRA), despite being the number one seed in the competition. Third in Portugal at the start of the season and a finalist in Paris last February, the French judoka remains on a good dynamic. While each of his fights was a real battle, often going to the golden score, Revol found the resources to qualify again for the final in a category where several athletes could claim the podium.

To face the French judoka, we found the first local competitor, Magzhan Shamshadin, able to win a medal for the host nation of the event. Actually the medal was guaranteed, just the colour was unknown. His successive victories, especially that in the semi-final against Mehrzod Sufiev (TJK), ignited the stadium.

Suddenly the number of flags and the noise level rose in the venue as Magzhan Shamshadin and Cédric Revol entered the competition area. The contest was the kind of contest we like to see, dangerous actions coming from both sides in a ping-pong style. The consequence of that was that not a single penalty  was given during the first four minutes. The golden score period thus began with a virgin scoreboard and it was only after 1 and a half minutes that Revol received his first yellow card.

After 2:20 the French judoka dropped under Shamshadin, who tried to counter-attack, but Revol had anticipated that. Waza-ari was given but immediately corrected after a video review. The public could breathe, almost, as the final kept unfolding at an impressive pace. 5 minutes, 6 minutes of additional time and still only one shido on the scoreboard.

Shamshadin and Revol found the resources to always fall back on their feet, until 7 minutes and 36 seconds. That was the moment, when Revol could not escape the last counter-attack of Shamshadin, who with a yoko-guruma won the first gold medal for Kazakhstan in Astana. Congratulations to Magzhan Shamshadin and also to Cédric Revol. It takes two champions to make a great final and they were both amazing.

In the first match for a bronze medal, Doston Ruziev (UZB) had to face a highly motivated Mehrzod Sufiev (TJK), who won a bronze medal at home in Dushanbe two weeks ago. The first part of the contest was dominated by a kumi-kata battle, only one shido being awarded to Sufiev. In the second half, the Tajik judoka received his second penalty to put him under pressure and then it was time for golden score. The next four minutes were intense but ended with the third shido being given to Sufiev, offering the victory and the second medal in a grand slam to Doston Ruziev.

Gamzat Zairbekov (AIN) and Tornike Tsjakadoea (NED) battled to complete the podium. With only 32 seconds left on the clock, golden score seemed to get closer and closer but in one last attempt to score, Gamzat Zairbekov defended with his head to avoid a throw which resulted in an immediate disqualification. The bronze medal went to Tornike Tsjakadoea, for the fourth time on a grand slam podium.