Mashu Baker challenges the world U90kg

Japanese super talent Baker Mashu won back-to-back Grand Slams for the first time in his thriving career as the 20-year-old Japanese ace outfought former Junior World Championships winner Magomed Magomedov from Russia in the final. Baker previously won the Grand Slam of Baku.

The young Japanese fighter meets every challenge with total commitment and was pushed to his physical limits today as he came up against three Russian judoka. Baker scored a yuko with an ouchi-gari and absorbed every attack from Magomedov as the 23-year-old had to settle for silver.

Baker said: "I am very happy, it was a hard day. I really wanted to fight in Russia again after my experience at the World Championships last year. Now I want to win the gold medal in Astana and I will prepare at a national training camp and at my University which is Tokai.”

For Baker it was his second Grand Slam victory this year.

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In the first semi-final Baku Grand Slam winner Baker shaded Dusseldorf Grand Prix silver medallist Kazbek Zankishiev (RUS) on a single shido penalty as the home fighter lost out but could still salvage a medal via the repechage. In the second semi-final Magomedov defeated former Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Khusen Khalmurzaev (RUS) by ippon at the halfway point to make sure that he would be the recipient of the fans’ passionate support in the final.

The first bronze medal was won by Khalmurzaev who defeated African Championships silver medallist Zack Piontek of South Africa. Khalmurzaev produced the first and only score of the contest which was a yuko and the bold bid from Piontek saw him finish with a credible fifth-place. The second bronze medal was captured by Tyumen judoka Zankishiev as former Tallinn European Open bronze medallist Aigars Milenbergs of Latvia received four penalties and hansoku-make after a lethargic display which was unfitting of the stage.