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Judo year-end: Tokyo celebrates the final of the 2023 Grand Prix series

The Judo Grand Slam for this year comes to an end. In Tokyo, the spectators once again experienced martial arts at its finest.

This Sunday it was time for the second day of the Judo Grand Prix in Tokyo. In the Japanese capital, the 2023 Gand Slam series is entering the home straight. And it is once again a showcase for the best athletes in this martial art.

Matvey Kanikovskiy started the final in top form in the 100 kilogram weight class, winning gold in Tokyo with an ippon – his third Grand Slam title this year.

Crowd favorite Abe Uta ended the final in the up to 52 kilogram class with an ippon in the very first minute. The spectators were naturally delighted, as was the athlete: “This is the only international event in Japan, so it’s important that we show the world true Japanese judo. I believe that I can currently improve and go one step further. That’s why it’s great for me personally to win here. “

Then it was her brother Abe Hifumi’s turn, who also delivered a great fight and ensured that the two siblings are the stars in Tokyo with another ippon.

In the up to 78 kilogram category, Mayra Aguiar from Brazil won her first gold medal in Tokyo with a waza-ari.

In the weight class up to 60 kilograms, Nagayama Ryuju won the all-Japanese final against Olympic champion Takato Naohisa to take gold

Miku Takaichi won Tokyo glory in the 63 kilogram weight class to the cheers of her fans.

World champion Natsumi Tsunoda from Japan won against Julia Figueroa from Spain in the up to 48 kilogram class – her second gold in Tokyo.

In the over 100 kilogram class, Tamerlan Bashaev took the title against South Korea’s Kim Minkjong with an ippon

The athletes showed plenty of ippons in Tokyo. And Japanese legends Chizuru Arai and Shohei Ono competed on the tatami against some of their former rivals. A great and inspiring moment for all children hoping for a golden judo career.

The Tokyo Grand Slam comes to an end, it was the last World Cup stop for 2023. To be continued next year!

By Arnold