Inside news
Home
News
Irresistible Sagi Muki thrills for Israel

Irresistible Sagi Muki thrills for Israel

10 May 2014 17:35
by Mark Pickering - IJF
IJF Media Team / International Judo Federation

Dusseldorf Grand Prix silver medallist Sagi Muki (ISR) was unstoppable in the -73kg category as he bested Buenos Aires Pan American Open silver medallist Florent Urani (FRA). Urani, 23, already assured of his first Grand Slam medal, had the misfortune of meeting Muki, 21, who was in devastating form as he threw with ease all day long. The Israeli scored ippon after 90 seconds with a crowd-pleasing sode-tsurikomi-goshi to arguably steal the show on day two.

In the first semi-final Pierre DUPRAT (FRA) slipped to defeat at the hands of MUKI who registered two waza-ari scores with little resistance. Frenchman URANI made sure his country would be represented in the -73kg final as he triumphed against Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Victor SCVORTOV (UAE). URANI ran the risk of hansoku-make as he received his third shido in the final minute for passivity but SCVORTOV laboured to defeat.
 
The first bronze medal was clinched by SCVORTOV after a win against Asian star KHASHBAATAR Tsagaanbaatar (MGL) who traded a matside view and the coaching duties which kept him busy on Friday for a tilt at -73kg honours. SCVORTOV scored a waza-ari with ko-uchi-gari after two minutes and despite a battling performance KHASHBAATAR was unable to reply. The second bronze medal was won by ORUJOV Rustam (AZE) who narrowly edged DUPRAT in front of his delighted compatriots. The decisive moment saw the Frenchman receive a shido for an overly positive posture in a scoreless contest as ORUJOV - who lost out to eventual Olympic champion Mansur ISAEV (RUS) in London – earned his country’s first medal on day two of his home Grand Slam.