Danno dominates to take gold

Megu Danno clinched Japan’s first gold at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam judo championships with a clinical win in the women’s -63kg.

Danno, who had impressed throughout the morning, secured her place in the final, where she faced Mongolia’s consistent and tactically disciplined Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo.

Both judoka approached the contest with confidence, setting up a well-balanced and intriguing battle for gold.

In the final, each athlete received an early shido as they struggled to establish a grip. Lkhagvatogoo was penalised once more for the same infringement, placing her in a precarious situation in which any further mistake would have ended the contest.

No additional penalty was required though. On the ground, Danno displayed superb control, overturning her opponent and holding her down for ippon to claim the title.

The women’s –70 kg category brought together two athletes who had negotiated the earlier rounds with control.

Australian Aoife Coughlan entering as the top seed, earned her place in the final through measured and disciplined performances, while Hungarian Szofi Ozbas advanced with equal assurance, displaying sharp decision-making and technical clarity. Their meeting in the gold-medal contest set up a well-balanced and compelling encounter.

The final itself tilted quickly in Ozbas’ favour. With a smooth, almost effortless sode-tsuri-komi-goshi, she took a clear lead and a firm hold on the contest.

Coughlan appeared somewhat restricted, allowing her opponent to dictate the rhythm, an approach ill-suited against a judoka of Ozbas’ calibre. Comfortable in this controlled tempo, Szofi Ozbas maintained her advantage and secured the gold medal with authority.

The final of the men’s –73 kg saw Tajikistan’s Muhiddin Asadulloev earned his place in the gold medal contest after displaying remarkable sharpness and control, while Nils Stump of Switzerland, composed and authoritative from the outset, advanced with similar conviction.

Their meeting promised an explosive confrontation between two athletes at the height of their competitive rhythm.

Stump took the initiative immediately, setting a high pace in an attempt to unsettle his opponent. He came close to doing so, but in the very next exchange it was Asadulloev who seized the advantage, throwing with ko-uchi-gari for a waza-ari.

The Tajik judoka fought hard for every grip, recovering repeatedly from precarious situations with almost feline agility. He appeared to have the momentum well in hand, until Stump countered him cleanly to level the score.

The spectacle lived up to every expectation as the contest headed into golden score, with both judoka on the brink and everything to play for. In the end, it was an unexpected and brilliantly timed obi-tori-gaeshi that allowed Nils Stump to secure a superb victory.

The men’s –81 kg category Canadian François Gauthier Drapeau took on Russian Abdul-Kerim Tasuev, in a clash between two athletes whose form had been undeniable all day.

In less than thirty seconds, Drapeau launched himself underneath his opponent with a powerful sode-tsuri-komi-goshi to score a yuko, a reward that felt modest considering the effort and spectacular execution of the technique.

Tasuev had clearly landed on his side and the score stood. The Canadian judoka soon increased his lead with a magnificent o-soto-gari, this time earning waza-ari and showcasing the full power of his throwing ability.

At the same time, Gauthier Drapeau collected two penalties, leaving him vulnerable to a catastrophic third, which would have been a harsh outcome given the quality of his judo.

Having demonstrated technical mastery, he now needed tactical discipline; he delivered it superbly. François Gauthier Drapeau secured the gold medal for Canada with authority, his second gold medal in a grand slam.

Final Results

Men’s -73 kg

1. STUMP Nils (SUI)

2. ASADULLOEV Muhiddin (TJK)

3. MAKHMADBEKOV Makhmadbek (UAE)

3. CARGNIN Daniel (BRA)

5. SHEROV Abubakr (TJK)

5. GABA Joan-Benjamin (FRA)

7. DZITAC Ioan (ROU)

7. ESPOSITO Fabrizio (ITA)

Men’s -81 kg

1. GAUTHIER DRAPEAU Francois (CAN)

2. TASUEV Abdul-Kerim (RUS)

3. MUSOEV Sunatullo (TJK)

3. STERPU Victor (MDA)

5. GASANOV Gadzhidavud (BRN)

5. CAVELIUS Timo (GER)

7. GRAMATIKOV Georgi (BUL)

7. TATALASHVILI Nugzari (UAE)

Women’s -63 kg

1. DANNO Megu (JPN)

2. LKHAGVATOGOO Enkhriilen (MGL)

3. AVANZATO Carlotta (ITA)

3. SILVA Rafaela (BRA)

5. KLIMKAIT Jessica (CAN)

5. FAZLIU Laura (KOS)

7. OBERAN Iva (CRO)

7. PIOVESANA Lubjana (AUT)

Women’s -70 kg

1. OZBAS Szofi (HUN)

2. COUGHLAN Aoife (AUS)

3. DE VOOGD Margit (NED)

3. ERIKSSON Ida (SWE)

5. TELTSIDOU Elisavet (GRE)

5. SAIJO Rinako (JPN)

7. RASOANAIVO RAZAFY Aina Laura (MAD)

7. BOCK Samira (GER)