Nishigata Kenta grabs his first IJF Grand Prix title

Asian Championships bronze medallist Nishigata Kenta (JPN) claimed the heavyweight gold medal in the last contest of the Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix with a win against Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Sven Heinle (GER). Heinle, 23, who has two Grand Prix bronze medals to his name, fell to Nishigata whose best result before today was a Qingdao Grand Prix bronze medal. Nishigata, 27, held down Heinle with a yoko-shiho-gatame for ippon and Japan’s second gold medal on day three.

In the first semi-final Minsk European Open bronze medallist Iurii KRAKOVETSKII (KGZ) tasted defeat against Heinle who scored a waza-ari after three minutes but his rival replied with the same score and Heinle eventually won on shido penalties. In the second semi-final NISHIGATA defeated Tashkent Grand Prix winner Battulga Temuulen (MGL) by ippon after 69 seconds to secure a place in his first Grand Prix final.

The first bronze medal went to Battulga who reigned over former European bronze medallist Jean-Sebastien BONVOISIN (FRA). After a right-sided makikomi attempt from the Mongolian, BATTULGA took control on the ground and wrapped up his opponent with a mune-gatame and coach NAIDAN was up out of his chair to get a closer look at his man securing more Mongolian silverware. The second bronze medal went to Junior world champion ULZIIBAYAR Duurenbayar (MGL) who won bronze here in his homeland in 2013. ULZIIBAYAR won an uneventful contest on shido penalties as he was spurred on by the crowd and inspiring setting.