Takanori Nagase steals the show at Grand Slam Tokyo

FISU Universiade winner Nagase Takanori (JPN) reaffirmed himself as Japan’s front-runner in the -81kg category as he derailed French world champion Loic Pietri in the final. Nagase, 20, won the Kodokan Cup three weeks ago to seal his selection for the Grand Slam and maintained his country’s perfect record by winning Japan’s ninth gold medal from nine categories. Frenchman Pietri was in devastating form in the preliminary rounds but was consigned to defeat at the final hurdle as he was thrown with a harai-goshi for ippon in the fourth minute.

Nagase booked his place in the final by defeating former World Judo Masters bronze medallist Nakai Takahiro in an all-Japanese contest. The youngster scored a waza-ari from an uchi-mata and won with a kuzure-kesa-gatame hold to send his teammate into the repechage. In the second semi-final Pietri stormed past Tashkent Grand Prix winner Travis Stevens (USA) with a standing ippon seoi-nage after just 40 seconds.

The first bronze medal was won by world number one Avtandili Tchrikishvili who defeated Stevens by ippon with a uchi-mata (USA) after 30 seconds.

The second bronze medal was captured by Nakai who registered a dramatic come-from-behind win against Asian Championships winner Hong Suk Woong (KOR). Nakai trailed by two yuko scores but worked his way back into the contest and restored parity with two yuko scores of his own with the second coming from a ura-nage counter. The comeback was complete when the Japanese fighter held Hong down with a yoko-shiho-gatame for ippon.