The second and final day of the PARK24 Group Presents Tokyo Grand Slam 2025 concluded without a European gold medal. Instead, Europe collected two silvers in the women’s categories along with a handful of bronze medals.
The action opened with the women’s -70kg division. In the final, Russia’s powerhouse Madina Taimazova faced reigning world champion Shiho Tanaka of Japan. Despite relentless attempts from both sides, neither managed a decisive throw. Ultimately, Tanaka produced a brief but match-winning moment: after countering Taimazova’s failed seoi-otoshi, she transitioned quickly and secured a five-second hold, just long enough to earn a crucial yuko. The home crowd celebrated Tanaka’s victory, while Europe claimed both bronze medals through Katarzyna Sobierajska (POL) and Ai Tsunoda Roustant (ESP).
The women’s -78kg category saw Portugal’s Patricia Sampaio blaze through the draw, eliminating Tanaka (JPN), Wang (TPE) and Izumi (JPN). Her third Japanese opponent of the day, Kurena Ikeda, proved to be the final hurdle. Sampaio struck first with a sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi for yuko but Ikeda replied immediately with a yuko of her own via sumi-gaeshi. Maintaining control on the ground, Ikeda transitioned into a hold-down for ippon, securing the gold.
In +78kg, Romane Dicko (FRA) earned Europe’s lone medal of the category with a determined bronze-medal victory. After a shaky morning session, the French world champion refocused and managed what few can do: she turned her Japanese rival onto her back and locked in a firm osae-komi for ippon, looking every bit the champion again.
Europe’s final medal of the day came in the men’s -81kg division. World champion, Timur Arbuzov (RUS), opened his bronze-medal contest with a powerful seoi-otoshi against Kaito Amano (JPN), scoring waza-ari. He followed into ushiro-kesa-gatame but Amano capitalised on the momentum to escape. Even so, Arbuzov maintained control long enough to secure the medal.
As expected, Japan topped the medal table with an extraordinary haul of 11 gold, 11 silver, and 15 bronze medals. Russia followed with a 1-1-3 tally, while the Republic of Korea rounded out the top three at 1-1-1. Most delegations will remain in Tokyo for the post-event training camp, bringing this stage of the IJF World Tour 2025 to a close.
Source and Images: International Judo Federation
Author: Szandra Szogedi