Double joy for Japan, world title for Ono

After 90 seconds in the match Ono hit Nakaya with good ashi-waza and combined his way to a waza-ari score. Nakaya was already awarded with a penalty so Ono had a luxury situation. Both fighters picked up another penalty but the world title was safely back in the hands of Ono who lost it in 2014 against Korean Lee Young-Jun.

The last time that both met in an international match was in 2012 at the Grand Slam final in Tokyo where Ono won the battle. With Ono, Nakaya and even 19^th on the World Ranking Akimoto Hiroyuki, Ono seems to have found a way to qualify for Rio, but the it isn’t over until the fat lady is singing. Ono knows, with his past behavior in the heads of many.

Today Ono was the winner of a pool with European Champion Sagi Muki. But the Asians didn’t give any space to any other continent. Never it occurred that the top 6 consisted of only Asian athletes. Since 1977 when judo changed to seven categories, always another continent, and at least one of Europe was among the top five. Last year Musa Mogushkov, now the free fall of European judo in this category was clear. Only seventh places for Muki and Ungvari. And on top of the six Asians, an all Japan final. The last time that Europe won a World title was in 2005 by Braun Akos (HUN) followed by two Koreans and five Japanese world titles.

On his way to the final Muki gave Ono a good match but Shoka, Fernandes and Sai are of another level. Also Nakaya coulnld’t complain about the draw where other had to pick out the stones of the fire. Nakaya defeated Bensted, Ramirez, Boltaboev and Ungvari, and Hong in the semi final, a repetition of last year’s world championships final. Ono defeated finished An Chang-Rim of Korea in the final.

The bronze was for Sainjargal Nyam-Ochir who bested last year’s finalist Hong Kuk Hyon in his last match. After two minutes Sainjargal picked up a second penalty. But Sainjargal scored a yuko one minute for the end and professionally worked his way out to the end on the ground and took the bronze back home, his first ever World Championships medal. He had already won Olympic bronze in 2012.

An Chang-Rim won the bronze medal after a tough battle with Mongolian Ganbaatar Odbayar where a penalty for Ganbaatar made the decision in the match as later both fighters received penalties but still in the advance of the Korean. An who had a super day took the bronze medal. An survived a huge pool with Sainjargal whom he defeated in the quarter final. He overcame Montenegro sensation Nikola Gusic, who bested Olympic Champion (U66kg) Mansur Isaev by penalties. An further defeated triple World medallist Dex Elmont and dangerous German Igor Wandtke, a great road to another medal for Korea.