Unique double for Switzerland by Stump and Kocher

2023 World champion Nils Stump (SUI) recently returned to competition after a shoulder surgery and was five months out, but made a great comeback in Dushanbe at the Grand Slam santching the gold medal in the U73kg category. Home fighter Behruzi Khojazoda (TJK), who won silver last year at home, qualified for the final against Stump.

The final did not disappoint. Khojazoda was clearly saving his energy in the earlier rounds as he put Stump under intense pressure from the very first ‘hajime.' Despite getting out-gripped in the first half of the bout, Stump kept his composure and began to dominate the gripping exchanges in the latter half of the contest. With 20 seconds remaining, Khojazoda over-reached attempting a ko-uchi-gari and Stump countered to score waza-ari, transitioning straight into tate-shiho-gatame to hold the Tajik competitor for ippon. Despair for Khojazoda, a third grand slam gold for Stump.

For bronze Mukhammad Jumaev (UZB) took on 19-year-old Enkhtur Jugdergarav (MGL) in the first medal contest. The Mongolian looked self-assured throughout the day in what was his first senior WJT event but the match was over in just one minute. Jumaev countered an uchi-mata attempt from Jugdergarav to score waza-ari and transitioned to juji-gatame but the Mongolian escaped. His relief didn’t last long though because, in the following exchange, Jumaev then floored his opponent with a beautiful ko-uchi-gari from two sleeves. With that he earned himself a thoroughly deserved first WJT medal at only his second attempt.

The second bronze medal was decided between Erdenebayar Batzaya (MGL) vs Darkhan Koibagar (KAZ). The contest was a cagey left versus right battle, with very few strong attacks from either player in normal time. The first big attack came in the first exchange of golden score, with Batzaya hopping in for o-uchi-gari but Koibagar countered with o-uchi-gaeshi to score waza-ari and snatch the victory. Koibagar earns a brilliant first WJT medal at the seventh time of asking.

Throughout the day there was palpable concern from the home crowd in the Kasri Tennis Arena in round 2, as Khojazoda appeared to struggle against world number 170 Blimgotov (BRN). It took him nearly six minutes to eventually take a tactical victory over the Bahraini. This turned out to be a false alarm, however, as the Hungary Masters 2023 silver medallist was just getting into his stride. He took his time again in round 3 against Shayakhmetov (KAZ), scoring waza-ari with a circling ko-uchi-gari with 25 seconds remaining, and running out the clock on the ground.

In the quarter-final Stump met Tbilisi Grand Slam 2023 gold medallist Erdenebayar Batzaya (MGL). Khojazoda dispatched the Mongolian confidently with a strong tomoe-nage, scoring ippon in the third minute of the contest. His semi-final opponent would be the unranked Mukhammad Jumaev (UZB). Like his teammates Vadjiev and Nutfulloev on day 1, Jumaev had displayed excellent attacking judo in his earlier contests, the highlight being a stunning uki-otoshi ippon against Jack Yonezuka (USA) in their quarter-final. Despite his impressive efforts, he was no match for the experienced Khojazoda, who threw him in the final minute with a crafty yoko-guruma for ippon as he himself rose from the ground.

In the end it was the Swiss world champion who prevailed and captured the second gold medal in Dushanbe and third medal for Switzerland. Never ever before in the World Judo Tour  (since 2009) Switzerland won two titles in one event. On Friday Fabiennen Kocher defeated Binta Ndiaye in an all Swiss final U52kg. The last time that Switzerland three medals was in January 2002 at the Grand Prix Portugal.