Inal Tasoev doesn't need much time to finish with gold

Much was expected of recent world champion Inal Tasoev (AIN). With his world title he should be able to keep control in Ulaanbaatar, and so he did and captured the gold medal of the Grand Slam. Two waza-ari, from an uchi-mata concluded on the ground against Jaegu Youn (KOR) in the first round, set the tone. In the next round, Tasoev eliminated Adil Orazbayev (KAZ) and Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) in the semi-finals. The world champion had all the cards in hand to get on the top step of the podium again, although Kim disagreed.

At the end of this last day of competition in Ulaanbaatar and in the last final of the event, Inal Tasoev confirmed his recent world title as Inbar Lanir did in the women's -78kg. To win gold, Tasoev launched an uchi-mata that was blocked by Minjong Kim, but Tasoev changed direction and scored waza-ari with tani-otoshi before concluding with an armlock for ippon.

Losseni Kone (GER) believed in it almost to the end and he didn't miss much to reach the final, having eliminated the number one seed, Tsetsentsengel Odkhuu (MGL) in the quarter-finals with a magnificent sumi-gaeshi. A little blunted by his first contests, Kone could not pass the Minjong Kim obstacle in the semi-final and let the Korean slip away to the final.

Tsetsentsengel Odkhuu (MGL) and Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) battled for the first bronze medal. For the happiness of the public, Tsetsentsengel Odkhuu won the bronze with a ko-soto-gari for ippon.

Either Adil Orazbayev (KAZ) or Losseni Kone (GER) could still complete the podium. The medal went eventually to Losseni Kone, his first at this level of competition.