European Mixed Team Champions, Georgia, had a tough ride ahead for their semi final, facing the defending champions, Japan.
First up were the +78kg women, TAKAHASHI Ruri and Sophio SOMKHISHVILI, it was an early win for team Japan, as an ippon-scoring uchi mata came from Takahashi. This didn’t disturb the concentration and ambitions for the Georgian side however, as Guram TUSHISHVILI was ready to even the score. It wasn’t an easy head to head with NAKANO Kanta, and with only 30 seconds to go, Nakano may have made the mistake of clinching with Tushishvili, who threw with ko soto gari.
For Georgia, it’s safe to say that Eteri LIPARTELIANI has been the queen of the World Championships. Making history in her individual competition wasn’t enough, she has to go for team gold too. It was a rocky start against TAMAOKI Momo, who actually scored first with tomoe nage, but it wasn’t ippon which left room for a comeback. Patiently waiting, Liparteliani countered a weak drop seoi nage attack from Tamaoki for the win!
Keeping the momentum rolling was Mikheili BAKHBAKHASHVILI of Georgia, their National Champion in the -73kg category who helped them to a European title and narrowly missed out on a Grand Slam bronze in Qazaqstan. TANAKA Yudai was unable to recover from a skipping de ashi barai from Bakhbakhashvili, instead found himself at the end of some strong te waza and an ippon score for his Georgian opponent.
3-1 to Georgia.
Mariam TCHANTURIA gave everything she had against TERADA Utana (JPN) and the pair delved in to golden score. Though Tchanturia tried to attack with uchi mata, it was anticipated by Terada who threw with uchi mata sukashi to make the score 3-2.
Then we saw the Olympic final rematch in the -90kg category between Lasha BEKAURI and MURAO Sanshiro. Bekauri didn’t have the performance he hoped for in the individual event, but he absolutely made up for in these preliminaries.
Of course the contest was greatly anticipated as Murao just took the world title and has been on top form, which he continued in this contests, scoring waza ari first with some nice ashi waza. The supporters were feeling nervous but still rallying for their double Olympic Champion who with 48 seconds left on the clock, and two shidos to his name, found the way. He pulled Murao up from the ground and, attempting uchi mata before changing direction and throwing with yoko guruma to score ippon and secure Team Georgia’s place in the final against Republic of Korea.
Germany had been on such a roll during this Mixed Teams tournament but were stopped in their tracks by the Republic of Korea in the opposite semi final.
Alina BOEHM was first up for Team Germany fighting the +78kg World Champion, KIM but was unable to manage with the weight and style difference, unable to come up with a score, instead ceding three shidos.
In the +100kg category, Losseni KONE (GER) helped his team to the semi final, only to face the 2024 World Champion, KIM Minjong (KOR), who settled for a bronze this year. After the half way mark, Kim added a yuko score to the board, followed by a waza ari. A lovely piece of ashi waza secured the win for the Republic of Korea, making it 2-0.
HUH Mimi (KOR) has been redeeming herself following an early exit in the individual tournament, and in this round countered an attack from Seija BALLHAUS to score waza ari before transitioning immediately in to a hold. Finally, BAE Donghyun took the fourth win for his team, defeating Jano RUEBO with kata guruma for the place in the final.
Germany will go to the bronze medal contest against Italy who defeated Uzbekistan 4-3 after going to a draw. Irene PEDROTTI in the -70kg category was the deciding factor and pulled off an incredible win against Khurshida RAZZOKBERDIEVA with a huge drop morote seoi nage.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen