Mikhail Igolnikov proves to be an ace for the Games

Mikhail Igolnikov (AIN) has won the Grand Slam in Baku. The winner in Ulaanbaatar last June, started with a bye, followed by victories against Theodoros Tselidis (GRE) and Thomas Scharfetter (AUT), before defeating Mihael Zgank (TUR) in the semi-final. In the final he was opposed to Ivaylo Ivanov.

Igolnikov was definitely the man to beat. Within less than ten seconds, he had already launched an uchi-mata combined with o-uchi-gari for a first waza-ari. Ivanov had to come with a solution. But with just over a minute to go, Igolnikov again combined his powerful uchi-mata with a change in direction and o-uchi-gari for a second waza-ari. It was gold for Igolnikov who didn't want to share the victory.

The indestructible Krisztian Toth (HUN) opened the ball in the U90kg category, with victories against Gustavo Assis (BRA) and Namhoon Lee (KOR). At 29, Toth continues to have fun on the world circuit. We find traces of him in 2011, it was during the World Cup in Tbilisi, during which he failed to reach the podium. The years have passed and the results at the world level have continued to pile up with medals in world championships, World Judo Masters and at the Olympic Games.

The man to enter the final was Ivaylo Ivanov (BUL), whose rich judo always impresses. After a first win against Toni Miletic (BIH) in the first round, Ivanov had clearly defeated Kenta Nagasawa (JPN), winner of the Paris Grand Slam at the beginning of the season. In the quarter final he was opposed to former world champion Nemanja Majdov (SRB) and won again before facing Toth.

In the first bronze medal contest, Murad Fatiyev (AZE) faced Mihael Zgank (TUR). Fatiyev obviously had the whole crowd behind him. This helps. Golden score was approaching fast with only a handful of seconds on the clock. Zgank was behind on penalties when he executed one of those action-reaction moves that leaves the opponent powerless. Having the ends of the sleeves in his hands, Zgank pretended to go for a sode-tsuri-komi-goshi. That was a trick, because he actually went for the ko-uchi-gari. Within a second, Fatiyev was in the air, landing on his back; a bronze medal for Mihael Zgank.

Thomas Scharfetter (AUT) and Krisztian Toth (HUN) met in the second bronze medal contest. Golden score was needed after normal time with just one shido apiece. 1 minute 38 into golden score, Toth did the job to capture the bronze medal. Tactically speaking, perfectly ready, he pushed Scharfetter to be penalised two more times. It was bronze for Toth and a massive smile appeared on his face. It’s medal number 14 in a grand slam from the Hungarian champion.