The Japanese team is busy with a statement in Qingdao as Japan rules the medal table, also in the men’s -73 kg category which is one of the most unpredictable events of the day. The gold medal contest brought together two former Paris Grand Slam winners and quickly developed into a gripping, tactical battle. Japan’s Tatsuki Ishihara and Uzbek Shakhram Ahadov in a fight for the grip which dominated the opening exchanges, neither judoka willing to concede even the smallest advantage.
By halfway, each athlete had collected two penalties. Ahadov appeared genuinely surprised when he received a third penalty for a false attack but the decision was fully justified. It brought the contest to an abrupt conclusion and handed Ishihara another gold medal for Japan.
Ishihara then said, “I knew the final would be a tough fight against a very strong opponent, so I made sure I was fully prepared. I was able to execute my game plan throughout the day and I’m very happy that it paid off. The -73 kg category has such a rich legacy, with so many great champions in Japan and around the world. That motivates me to keep improving, to stay disciplined and to train even harder. I’m incredibly happy to have won here in Qingdao. Now I’ll enjoy this moment and celebrate with some good food.”
The first bronze medal contest, between Victor Skerlev and Narek Vardanian, became one of the longest and most dramatic of the day. Deep into an exhausting golden score, neither athlete looked capable of finding the breakthrough. Every grip was fiercely contested and every attack carefully measured. Then, in what seemed a final throw of the dice, Skerlev launched a desperate o-soto-gari with little visible control. Somehow, as Vardanian attempted to counter, the Bulgarian recovered his balance, maintained the initiative and drove his opponent cleanly onto his back for a spectacular ippon that earned him a memorable bronze medal.
The second bronze medal contest could hardly have been more different. Only seconds were required for Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov to extinguish Jack Yonezuka’s hopes of claiming a second consecutive World Judo Tour medal. A thunderous o-soto-gari sent the American crashing onto his back, leaving no doubt about the outcome. After the disappointment of missing the final, Makhmadbekov finished his day on the podium with the bronze medal.
The top half of the draw saw Shakhram Ahadov (UZB) put together an impressive campaign. After coming through a demanding section featuring Bakhitzhan Abdurakhmanov (KAZ) and Bilal Ciloglu (TUR), the Uzbek overcame top seed Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov (UAE) in the semi-final to earn his place in the gold medal contest. Before being stopped, Makhmadbekov, looking to bounce back after a disappointing tournament in Ulaanbaatar, had looked increasingly convincing through the morning, notably ending Victor Skerlev’s (BUL) excellent run.
In the opposite half, Tatsuki Ishihara (JPN) worked his way through the draw steadily. The Japanese judoka eliminated Guilherme de Oliveira (BRA), Buian-Kherel Sanaa (RUS) and Rashid Mammadaliyev (AZE) before meeting Narek Vardanian (SWE) in the semi-final. One of the surprise packages of the day, Vardanian had already ended Jack Yonezuka’s (USA) campaign, the American having claimed silver only a week earlier in Ulaanbaatar. The Swede’s remarkable run ended in the last four, Ishihara proving one challenge too many as he booked his place in the final.
Few had predicted such a final when the day began, with Ahadov and Ishihara emerging from an exceptionally deep field. Behind them, Makhmadbekov, Vardanian, Skerlev and Yonezuka remained in contention for the bronzes, promising a spectacular final block