The second and final day of the Guangzhou World Masters saw current world champion Guram TUSHISHVILI (GEO) take the gold medal and retain his World Masters title in the +100kg category. In doing so Tushishvili confirmed his status as world number one by topping the category ahead of the complete top ten in the world. Of course, there will be the nagging question of Teddy RINER (FRA) whose “time-out” coincides with Tushishvili rise to the top. But that is not the Georgian’s fault nor should it detract from the scale of his success this past year. There will be time enough for Tushishvili to prepare for that head-to-head, whenever the giant Frenchman decides it is time to return, perhaps at the Paris Grand Slam in 2019. For the time being, the Georgian rules the roost. Not once today was Tushishvili required to go the distance. And even when against KAGEURA Kokoro (JPN) the Georgian was unable to come up with an ippon, it was due more to Kageura’s determination to defend, a poor choice of plan that resulted in the latter’s collecting three shidos and gifting the contest to Tushishvili. In the final Tushishvili downed for the third time the big man from Brazil double Olympic bronze medallist Rafael SILVA (BRA). The bronze medals were won by a typically spirited and plucky Tamerlan BASHAEV (RUS) and David MOURA (BRA).
In the -81kg Russia could well have been expected to feature in the medals given that they had three entrants in the category, one of whom was the current Olympic and reigning World Masters champion, Khasan KHALMURZAEV (RUS). However, it was Aslan LAPPNIAGOV (RUS) who made his way to the final for the second year running where he was defeated this time by SASAKI Takeshi (JPN). The bronze medals were won by Vedat ALBAYRAK (TUR) and Frank DE WIT (NED).
In the -78kg category there was a surprise absence on the podium of any of the Dutch trio, the Japanese trio placing 1, UMEKI Mami (JPN), 2, SATO Ruika (JPN), and 3, HAMADA Shori (JPN). The remaining bronze medal went to Natalie POWELL (GBR).
In the +78kg category the Japanese completed their near total dominance of the women’s division by taking a 5th gold medal, when SONE Akira (JPN) defeated in the final former world and Olympic champion Idalys ORTIZ (CUB). The bronze medals were won by Larisa CERIC (BIH) and Maria Suelen ALTHEMAN (BRA).
In the -90kg category current world champion Nikoloz SHERAZADISHVILI (ESP) took the gold medal to confirm his place as undisputed number one in a category with all the major contenders in attendance. In the final the young Spaniard defeated world number 3 TOTH Krisztian (HUN). The bronze medals were won by Mikhail IGOLNIKOV (RUS) and Islam BOZBAYEV (KAZ).
There was more success for Georgia in the -100kg category where Varlam LIPARTELIANI (GEO) retained his World Masters title. The Georgian now has the unique record of having appeared in all 7 World Masters events. His opponent in the final this year, LKHAGVASUREN Otgonbaatar (MGL) was unable to compete due to an injury sustained in an earlier round. The bronze medals were won by Ramadan DARWISH (EGY) and IIDA Kentaro (JPN).
In the -70kg category the gold medal went to NIIZOE Saki (JPN) when in the final she defeated three times world champion Yuri ALVEAR (COL). The bronze medals were won by Michaela POLLERES (AUT) and Sanne VAN DIJK (NED).
In the -78kg category there was a surprise absence on the podium of any of the Dutch trio, the Japanese trio placing 1, UMEKI Mami (JPN), 2, SATO Ruika (JPN), and 3, HAMADA Shori (JPN). The remaining bronze medal went to Natalie POWELL (GBR).
In the +78kg category the Japanese completed their near total dominance of the women’s division by taking a 5th gold medal, when SONE Akira (JPN) defeated in the final former world and Olympic champion Idalys ORTIZ (CUB). The bronze medals were won by Larisa CERIC (BIH) and Maria Suelen ALTHEMAN (BRA).
