Kim Sung-Min completes Korean harvest

Kim Sung-Min of Korea won his star-laden team’s fourth Grand Slam gold medal in three days as he defeated world bronze medallist Iakiv Khammo (UKR) in the +100kg final. Both judoka were penalised for passivity after two minutes before Kim threw his young Ukrainian foe on the edge of the area and Khammo bridged which meant the referee had no choice but to award the ippon for 2001 world bronze medallist Kim.

In the first semi-final Khammo comfortably defeated Andre Breitbarth (GER) by a waza-ari and yuko to advance into the gold medal contest. In the second semi-final Kim defeated Levani Matiashvili (GEO) by ippon having led by a waza-ari.

The first bronze medal went to top seed and former world bronze medallist Faicel Jaballah (TUN) who beat Matiashvili in a heavyweight contest which never ignited. Both judoka exchanged shido penalties as the Georgian was penalised on three occasions including twice for passivity while Jaballah was only penalised once for an overly defensive posture. The second bronze medal went to Breitbarth at the expense of Tyumen Grand Slam bronze medallist Maciej Sarnacki (POL).

Kim won three times in Tokyo's Grand Slam, now he was able to win outside Tokyo and regained his 2011 title in Abu Dhabi, at that time a Grand Prix. With this weekend's four victories at Grand Slams, Korea is on schedule for a year performance. Last year three Koreans won in Tokyo, each year's last Grand Slam. In 2009 Korea won six Grand Slams, as best year in Grand Slams.