Japanese debutant Sato Seidai steals the show

IJF World Judo Tour newcomer Sato Seidai of Japanmade a riveting start to life on the world circuit as the 21-year old beat Olympic medallists on his way to U81kg gold. The Japanese youngster beat Baku Grand Slam winner Khasan Khalmurzaev of Russia in his sixth fight of the day and started as he meant to go on by registering a yuko. Sato added a second from a drop seoi-nage and concluded a breathless performance by ippon to leave Khalmurzaev in awe of his conqueror.

In the first semi-final Khalmurzaev saw off Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Roman Moustopoulos (GRE). The Russian took the lead with a yuko from an uchi-mata as Moustopoulos repeatedly infringed and was eventually disqualified for receiving four penalties. In the second semi-final Lee Sungho (KOR) was making his second appearance on the IJF World Judo Tour and for a place in the final lined up opposite Sato. The Japanese fighter trailed a yuko from a ko-soto-gake but fought back and produced a yuko from a 10-second holddown. Sato was able to re-establish his control on the ground to trap Lee with a kami-shiho-gatame for 20 seconds and ippon. 

The first bronze medal was won by beaten semi-finalist Lee against Owen Livesey (GBR). Lee added to the home nation’s plentiful medal collection by throwing his opponent with a huge drop morote-seoi-nage for ippon with three minutes remaining. The South Korean had threatened with similar techiques on multiple occasions as Livesey was unable to assert himself in his first Grand Prix medal contest.

The second bronze medal was clinched by Moustopoulos who had to come from behind in the final 14 seconds to defeat Dusseldorf Grand Prix winner Joachim Bottieau (BEL). The Belgian judoka scored a waza-ari with a neatly executed piece of ashi-waza before forcing his Greek rival to narrowly turn out of a ko-uchi-gari attack. Moustopoulos took control of his opponent on the ground and held him down with a yoko-shiho-gatame for 20 seconds and the contest.