As always, the -81kg delivers the drama, with some of the greatest in the category going out in early rounds including double Olympic Champion, NAGASE Takanori (JPN). A quarter final match up was seen between Tato GRIGALASHVILI (GEO) and Matthias CASSE (BEL) which was certainly one for the books, both scoring and picking up two shidos but in the end, after five minutes of golden score, it was Casse that was issued a third.
It was a quick turn around for Casse who was unfortunately unable to battle his way through the repechage against LEE Joonhwan (KOR). Grigalashvili then went through to the semi final against Zelim TCKAEV (AZE) but was always on the run, the Georgian athlete all over him. There were two yuko scores put on the board by the three-time, defending world title, first with ko uchi gari and then later, after a scramble, took his opponent back for score number two.
In less than a minute on the adjoining tatami, the current European Champion and 2024 World silver medallist, Timur ARBUZOV (IJF) defeated Uzbekistan’s Arslonbek TOJIEV, first scoring with a huge ko soto gari followed by ko uchi gari for the win.
As a result we will see a rematch of the 2024 World and 2025 European final between the seasoned pro, Grigalashvili and new kid on the block, Arbuzov.
Laura FAZLIU (KOS) will be Europe’s only hope for a medal in the -63kg category, and will fight for the bronze against Nauana SILVA (BRA), it was a direct pass for the Kosovo athlete whose opponent was unable to fight in the repechage. The Olympic bronze medallist gave a passionate performance but made a small error in her quarter final which cost her the road to the final.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen