Nemanja Majdov back with desired grand slam gold

Two veterans of the circuit acted as favourites at the bottom of the draw, Toth and Majdov. Krisztian Toth (HUN) is one of the most present judoka on the circuit. In 2023, he participated in ten World Judo Tour competitions, Abu Dhabi included. He likes it and that is visible, since he has already won six medals this season. It was Majdov though who captured the gold medal. Not having been present in a final for a long time Majdov was expected to be tactical as well as Mosakhlishvili, but with his long experience at the highest level, Majdov had obviously a little advantage. The final unfolded as planned.

Not in a hurry at all, the Serbian Judoka just waited and waited for the right moment. That happened at the beginning of the golden score. With a precise kata-guruma, he scored a waza-ari for a win that has definitely a taste of comeback.

The first match for a bronze medal was between Giorgi Jabniashvili (GEO) and Klen Kristofer Kaljulaid (EST). Within the first minute, Jabniashvili took the lead with a seoi-nage for waza-ari and again scored with a de-ashi-barai for a second waza-ari. Bronze medal for Giorgi Jabniashvili.

Another bronze medal was not far away for Krisztian Toth (HUN) but for that he had to face Sungho Lee (KOR). At the end of the normal time, both judoka had two shido each. Time for golden score. This is the moment, Toth chose to apply a clever and very tactical ashi-waza for a waza-ari. This is medal number fifteen for Krisztian Toth in a grand slam. What a respectful record by Toth.

The number one seed, Christian Parlati (ITA) did not imagine such a difficult opener. Thrown twice by Sungho Lee (KOR), he found himself in the locker room faster than expected. Using the building momentum, the Korean judoka reached the semi-finals, where he found Tristani Mosakhlishvili (ESP), who after orchestrating the premature elimination of one of the favourites, Mikhail Igolnikov (AIN), had a more open quarter of the draw. It was ultimately the Spaniard who qualified for the final at the expense of the Korean.

For this tenth outing, Toth seemed a little tired, which is entirely understandable. Despite everything, thanks to an iron will, he reached the quarter-finals, but had to accept a loss against Klen Kristofer Kaljulaid (EST), who himself could do nothing against the former world champion Nemanja Majdov (SRB). The semi-final was tactical but in this little game Majdov proved to have the better experience. The final therefore pitted Tristani Mosakhlishvili and Nemanja Majdov against each other.