Mongolian Kherlen Ganbold wins back-to-back IJF event
Kherlen Ganbold of Mongolia recorded his second IJF World Judo Tour win in as many weeks as he responded to being left out of Mongolia’s team for the Worlds in the best possible way. At the Grand Prix in Budapest Ganbold trailed to Asian-Pacific Championships silver medallist Yeldos Zhumakanov (KAZ) by a waza-ari score but fought his way back into the final and subdued his Asian rival by ippon. Last week Ganbold became the Montreal Grand Prix gold medallist.
In the first semi-final Tashkent Grand Prix bronze medallist Shakhram Akhadov (UZB) could not impose himself against Ganbold who forced the Uzbek to receive three penalties. In the second semi-final Zhumakanov brushed aside an overmatched Alberto Gaitero Martin (ESP) who was disqualified after picking up three penalties.
The first bronze medal was won by three-time world silver medallist Mikhail Puliaev (RUS) who edged past Gaitero by a waza-ari score which was the only score of the entertaining contest as the Russian showed that he’s still a factor on the circuit at this latter stage of his career.
The second bronze medal went to Akhadov who beat a below-par Tbilisi Grand Prix gold medallist Tal Flicker (ISR) to clinch his first IJF medal of the season.
Result | City | Date |
---|---|---|
2 | Paris | 30 Jul |
1 | Abu Dhabi | 21 May |
1 | Zagreb | 26 Apr |
3 | Belgrade | 2023 |
2 | Montpellier | 2023 |