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Judo Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi: Day of the Heavyweights

As always, the final day was reserved for the heavyweights. The Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam offered Georgian Beka Gviniashvili another opportunity to add to his successful 2022 competition year. In June, he already won the Grand Slam of Tbilisi in the men’s up to 90 kilograms, then the Grand Prix of Zagreb the following month. In Abu Dhabi, the young Frenchman Loris Tassier challenged him. Gwiniaschwili’s experience, however, was worth its weight in gold in the truest sense of the word.

Mohammed Bin Thaaloob Al Derie, the chairman of the United Arab Emirates Wrestling and Judo Federation, was in charge of the medal presentation.

“Well, of course, I am satisfied: another Grand Slam gold medal and I am also happy with my performance. I was well prepared. I am very happy that I have already won so many medals on the World Tour. In the future, I also hope to win medals at the Olympics and World Championships,” said Gviniashvili.

Two gold medals for China

Ma Zhenzhao from China and Natalie Powell from Great Britain settled the Grand Slam victory between themselves in the women’s up to 78 kilograms. The Chinese had the longer breath and received the gold medal.

The decision in the final was made by Ma Zhenzhao with a tani otoshi. The Chinese brought her good form from the World Championships to Abu Dhabi. She had won silver in Tashkent.

The golden reward in Abu Dhabi was presented by Naser Al Tamimi, the treasurer of the World Judo Federation.

“After the World Championships, I was a bit tired, but when I came here, the whole group and my coach helped me a lot. Yes, I was a bit tired, but I wanted the gold medal,” Ma Zhenzhao stressed.

Canadian Kyle Reyes won the men’s up to 100 kilograms in Abu Dhabi. The referee director of the world federation, Florin Daniel Lascau, congratulated at the award ceremony.

At the World Championships in Tashkent, Kyle Reyes also stood on the podium. In Abu Dhabi, silver became gold. Reyes is having a successful autumn.

Su Xin won the second gold medal for the People’s Republic of China. It was the first Grand Slam success for the heavyweight fighter. She prevailed against Sophio Somchishvili from Georgia. Lisa Allan, member of the Executive Committee of the World Federation, honoured the winner.

Lukas Krpalek defeats Jur Spijkers

Two-time Olympic and world champion Lukas Krpalek proved once again why his name comes up so often when it comes to heavyweight victories. The Czech defeated Jur Spijkers from the Netherlands in the final. The precious metal came from Nurullo Loiqov, the chairman of the Tajik Judo Federation.

The United Arab Emirates did not win a medal this weekend, but Dzhafar Kostoyev was one of the local judoka who showed: Maybe next year in Abu Dhabi!

By Julian