On day one of the Tokyo Grand Slam, Japan heard their national anthem played seven times for the seven gold medals won in the lightweight categories, however on day two, the celebrations were somewhat stopped in their tracks. Storming through the -100kg category was current European Champion, Matvey KANIKOVSKIY (IJF), a formidable athlete who plays his cards close to his chest, and even in glory remains respectful.
Coming in as the defending title holder, Kanikovskiy had a target on his back and was forced to dig deep to continue his winning streak in Tokyo. That being said, he executed his win in style, especially the semi final, where we saw a rematch of the 2023 final against ARAI Dota (JPN). On this occasion, Kanikovskiy worked quickly and scored ippon with one of the biggest ura nage techniques seen.
Earning his place in the final, he then faced off the 2022 Tokyo winner, Gennaro PIRELLI (ITA). This contest was a little more difficult, however Kanikovskiy was the athlete in control, with Pirelli ceding two shidos. In the last 30 seconds of contest time, the European Champion saw his opportunity in ne waza, claiming the arm and finding the submission with ude garami.
The podiums were certainly more populated for the European representatives today; Timur ARBUZOV (IJF) was close to the gold medal in the -81kg category, however was caught with sasae tsurikomi ashi by FUJIWARA Sotaro (JPN) almost a minute in to golden score. A similar ashi waza fate lay in store for Luka MAISURADZE (GEO) who has made his comeback on the IJF World Tour this week, yet again the finalists delved in to golden score and after losing to Georgia in the OIympic -90kg final, MURAO Sanshiro (JPN) was not in the mood to do it in front of his home crowd as well. Defending his 2023 win in Tokyo, he threw with ko soto gari, capitalising on Maisuradze’s error of coming out of an attack.
Top seeds in the -70kg and -78kg categories were Lara CVJETKO (CRO) and Olympic bronze medallist, Patricia SAMPAIO (POR), and both athletes finished in bronze medal positions on the podium in Tokyo, battling against a torrent of Japanese talent. For Cvjetko, her last head to head was against Giorgia STANGHERLIN (ITA) who was unable to find her footing in the bronze medal contest, result in an accumulation of three shidos. It was an equally tough contest for Sampaio, however she managed to score a booming ippon with 20 seconds left on the clock, stunning the former Olympic Champion, HAMADA Shori (JPN) with ko soto gake.
In the heavyweight categories it was a collection of bronze and silver for the IJF representatives; current Junior World Champion, Denis BATCHAEV and multiple Grand Slam medallist, Elis STARTSEVA. For the latter, though she has been collecting medals on the IJF World Tour, this was her first final, and what a place to have it! Startseva’s next goal will of course be the gold medal, but she had a tough competitor to manage in the +78kg final, with ARAI Mao (JPN) who doubled up on her Tokyo wins with todays gold. It was a relatively quick win for Batchaev, who looked for his space in ne waza, after driving down with ko soto gari, he applied the osaekomi against SONG Woohyeok (KOR), who submitted before the clock ran down.
Japan took the top place on the medal table, followed by the Republic of Korea, then joined by Italy and Georgia in the top four.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen