Inside News
First day of Grand Prix Tbilisi includes Georgian lightweight favourites
Definitely the first day of the Grand Prix in Tbilisi will be attractive for the home crowd in Georgia to see their favourites in the men’s lightweight categories. U0kg Amiran Papinashvili is experienced and always among the favourites. If he can pick up the pace is the question, but the draw looks good for him. U66kg the crowd will look for Vazha Margevelashvili as eyecatcher. Read more
Olympic judo medallists present at Grand Prix Tbilisi
The Tbilisi Grand Prix will be the focus of the judo world from Friday to Sunday with 302 judoka from 38 nations set to contest the fifth edition of Georgia’s revered leg of the IJF World Judo Tour. Read more
KISS rockstar Gene Simmons gets honorary Black belt from Jason Morris
While attending the Gene Simmons New York Vault Experience this week, the internationally renowned, Jason Morris Judo Center owners, Teri Takemori (IJF "A" Ref) and four time Olympian, Jason Morris presented Gene Simmons of the rock band, Kiss with an honorary Black Belt. Read more
Also Hyoga Ota can win a Grand Slam
Japanese youngster Ota Hyoga of Japan won the last final of the Ekaterinburg Grand Slam 2018 with a narrow win triumph over former European champion Henk Grol (NED) at +100kg. Ota, 20, was pitted against one of the most experienced and most accomplished judoka in the entire competition in two-time Olympic bronze medallist Grol. Read more
Larisa Ceric backs up top seed billing
Larisa Ceric (BIH) won all three of her contests by the maximum score in Ekaterinburg to come away with her first Grand Slam title. Ceric defeated double world silver medallist Maria Suelen Altheman (BRA) in a final which failed to ignite as both judoka showed a lack of attacking intent. Read more
Russian Niyaz Ilyasov earns best male result at home
Niyaz Ilyasov of Russia launched his 2018 season with a home gold medal and his maiden Grand Slam title in Ekaterinburg. Ilyasov, 22, repaid the faith team supremo Ezio Gamba showed in the former Junior World Championships winner by marching to the U100kg gold medal by dispatching some of the most experienced judoka in the category. Read more
Rika Takayama again takes gold in Russia
Former Tyumen Grand Slam winner Takayama Rika of Japan won Grand Slam gold on Russian soil for the second time with a convincing display at U78kg. Read more
- 18 Mar 2018World number one Aleksandar Kukolj completes Grand Slam hat-trick
- 18 Mar 2018Maria Portela again strong in Russia and back as world number one
- 18 Mar 2018Fujiwara Sotaro wins battle of Japanese youngsters
- 17 Mar 2018Priceless birthday present for Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir
- 17 Mar 2018Nouchi Aimi wins again in Russia to end day one with top spot for Japan
- 17 Mar 2018Fifth Grand Slam crown for Portuguese ace Telma Monteiro
- 17 Mar 2018Natalia Kuziutina wins at home in first Grand Slam triumph since 2009
- 17 Mar 2018Hiromi Endo earns first Grand Slam title
- 17 Mar 2018Hifumi Abe extends unbeaten run with sixth Grand Slam victory
- 17 Mar 2018All smiles for Kazakhstan’s former world champion Yeldos Smetov
- 16 Mar 2018Strong presence for Russians at Grand Slam Ekaterinburg
- 16 Mar 2018Three American Judo organisations finally become one
- 15 Mar 2018High performance judo: factors for international success
