Abu Dhabi (SB Report):-Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Judo concluded, as the players displayed excellent skills of game to win the position in the international judo showpiece.
Results:
-90kg Russia Sets the Pace
Russia’s Mansur Lorsanov had the merit of eliminating the first seed, Uzbek Davlat Bobonov and consolidating Russian dominance in the last tournament of the season. He did it in an unprecedented way, for the first time with poise, like wanting to say that he has come to stay. For his part, Tajikistan’s Kmoronshokh Ustopiriyon had not played for a medal since the dawn of time. At 28 it seemed that his limit was the first rounds, but in Abu Dhabi he managed to separate all his opponents and get into the fight for gold in his own right.
However, in the final he had two problems. The first was the excellent kumi-kata of the Russian who nullified his strategy, if he had one. The second was his own inaction, which earned him a hansoku-make and the truth is that it was a shame because it was his first final in 19 appearances in grand slams. For the Russian, gold was a triumphant entry into the world of the elderly.
Final
LORSANOV Mansur (RUS) vs USTOPIRIYON Komronshokh (TJK)
Bronze Medal Contests
MADZHIDOV Dzhakhongir (TJK) vs SHEROV Erlan (KGZ)
DAMIER Francis (FRA) vs BOBONOV Davlat (UZB)
Final Results
1. LORSANOV Mansur (RUS)
2. USTOPIRIYON Komronshokh (TJK)
3. MADZHIDOV Dzhakhongir (TJK)
3. BOBONOV Davlat (UZB)
5. SHEROV Erlan (KGZ)
5. DAMIER Francis (FRA)
7. BALANTA Francisco (COL)
7. JAYNE John (USA)
-78kg The Mark on the Calendar
Alina Boehm is in full transition between the junior environment and the world of the seniors. The German is part of that new generation that in this category has enormous firepower, with the world number one and current world champion Anna Maria Wagner and also Luise Malzahn. The same is true in Britain, where there is a new group of young women who are gaining ground and pushing back the old guard. To this point Natalie Powell was the best Brit at -78kg. In Abu Dhabi Emma Reid displaced her compatriot to contest the gold against Boehm. They are two judoka with similar styles, good technically and with Reid superior in ne-waza. In the golden score period Boehm attacked but the British reacted explosively, nullifying the counterattack with a movement that could be considered as ko-uchi-gari with an unorthodox grip, using a change of direction. We are sure of a few things: it was quick and nice and it was worth a gold medal for Reid and spoke to us right after the final.
“I was nervous at the beginning, as I usually am before competitions, but today I felt more structured in my fights. I went through what we’ve been practising at home and that hard work gave me the confidence to go all the way.”
Final
BOEHM Alina (GER) vs REID Emma (GBR)
Bronze Medal Contests
POWELL Natalie (GBR) vs TURCHYN Anastasiya (UKR)
LANIR Inbar (ISR) vs BROLIH Patricija (SLO)
Final Results
1. REID Emma (GBR)
2. BOEHM Alina (GER)
3. POWELL Natalie (GBR)
3. LANIR Inbar (ISR)
5. TURCHYN Anastasiya (UKR)
5. BROLIH Patricija (SLO)
7. DUDENAITE Migle (LTU)
7. BABINTSEVA Aleksandra (RUS)
-100kg Third of a Kind
Arman Adamian and Matvey Kanikovskiy neutralised an entire battalion of elite troops in the always tricky –100kg category. It is true that Adamian was the favourite, but it is no less true that he had to face Belgian Toma Nikiforov, who has been on the rise since he recovered from a serious injury. Nikiforov may be fearsome, but today Adamian is out of Nikiforov’s reach. A special mention for Kanikovskiy because he got rid of the French Alezandre Iddir, the Dutch Michael Korrel and the Canadian Shady Elnahas, that is, the past, present and future of judo. None of them could stop the Russian.
Adamian dominated and baby-faced Kanikovskiy fought back until he couldn't take it anymore and suffered in his flesh that which began as ko-soto-gake and ended as ura-nage. Adamian ends the year with three consecutive victories, in Zagreb, Paris and Abu Dhabi and the leadership of the category. He is only 24 years old and he is already a prodigious judoka.
“I had to win this medal. I couldn’t take part in the Olympics and I had to prove that I should continue towards the next Games. I won the last three tournaments I took part in and I will work hard to be in Paris in 2024,” declared Adamian.
Final
ADAMIAN Arman (RUS) vs KANIKOVSKIY Matvey (RUS)
Bronze Medal Contests
PETERSILKA Falk (GER) vs ELNAHAS Shady (CAN)
KORREL Michael (NED) vs NIKIFOROV Toma (BEL)
Final Results
1. ADAMIAN Arman (RUS)
2. KANIKOVSKIY Matvey (RUS)
3. ELNAHAS Shady (CAN)
3. KORREL Michael (NED)
5. PETERSILKA Falk (GER)
5. NIKIFOROV Toma (BEL)
7. KHUDOYBERDIEV Aklmurodbek (UZB)
