World number one Francisco Garrigos confirms with gold in Linz

Spaniard Francisco Garrigos was the man to beat at U60kg at the Grand Prix in Linz. Being the current world champion, world number one and top seed, he was the ultimate favourite of the competition and he maintained his good form and secured a place in the final to meet Cédric Revol (FRA).

After a first shido apiece for gripping the fingers, Garrigos was the first in action as he counter-attacked Revol's seoi-otoshi for a waza-ari. Showing all his skills and control, the world champion later turned Revol and pinned him down for ippon. Revol did everything he could but today the strongest was Garrigos, without any doubt.

Ashley Mckenzie was fighting for bronze against Dutchman Tornike Tsjakadoea. This could have been the first ever medal in a grand prix for Jamaica, but unfortunately for Mckenzie he was penalised a third time in golden score, offering the medal to Tornike Tsjakadoea (NED).

The other bronze medal contest opposed Kanat Seilkhan (KAZ) and Dilshot Khalmatov (UKR). Seilkhan was the first to score, a waza-ari with an uchi-mata. Khalmatov probably thought that the action had started from the ground, which would have offered no score, but that was not the case. The technique was valid, giving Seilkhan a strong advantage. With this waza-ari in his pocket, Dilshot Khalmatov was trying to control his Kazakh opponent but it was on the ground that eventually the Ukrainian saved his day. After a brilliant turn over, he pinned Seilkhan for ippon. The bronze medal was for Dilshot Khalmatov, somewhat against the run of play, but this is judo and this is what we like. Everything is always possible until the referee announces the final ‘soremade.’

Cedric Revol had a pretty good first part of the competition and having already defeated the world champion in Abu Dhabi in 2023, everything was possible but ended with silver.