Inside News
Dutch delight Michael Korrel for king
World bronze medallist Michael Korrel of the Netherlands produced the performance of his career to beat former world champion Wolf Aaron (JPN) with a thunderous ippon after 27 seconds of golden score to claim his first Masters title. World number four Korrel threw his rival with a devastating seoi-nage to earn all the plaudits in one of the sport’s toughest and most talent-laden categories as he screamed with delight before making eye contact with the matside photographer. Read more
Lasha Bekauri upstages set of world champions
Junior World Championships gold medallist Lasha Bekauri of Georgia starred on the final day of the IJF season as he defeated world number one Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (ESP) in golden score. Georgian-born Spaniard Sherazadishvili appeared to be shaping up for sutemi-waza and lost his balance while Bekauri had control and the 19-year-old directed his opponent backwards for ippon and a remarkable victory. Read more
Tessie Savelkouls saves her best until last in 2019
World number 25 Tessie Savelkouls of the Netherlands won her first IJF title of the year at the final event of the season as the Dutchwoman won her country’s third gold medal in Qingdao. Former world bronze medallist Iryna Kindzerska (AZE) was outworked for the full four minutes of regulation time and was caught after 25 seconds of added time from a rolling seoi-nage for a waza-ari score. Read more
Audrey Posvite powers gold in Qingdao
Fanny Estelle Posvite of France earned the best result of her career in her new home of -78kg with an irresistible display. Posvite, who only moved up from -70kg to -78kg in March, now has eight medals from nine events at -78kg and defeated former world champion Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA) to seal her first Masters title today. Read more
Hisayoshi Harasawa knocks on the door for Olympic gold
Olympic silver medallist Harasawa Hisayoshi (JPN) was crowned the World Judo Masters heavyweight champion after the eagerly-awaited +100kg final could not take place because Olympic and world champion Lukas Krpalek (CZE) was ruled out due to back pain. Harasawa is seen as Japan’s leading heavyweight and the current front-runner for the Tokyo berth but April’s All Japan Openweight Championships will have a bearing on the selection for next summer. Read more
Matthias Casse closes best year ever with gold
World silver medallist Matthias Casse of Belgium won World Judo Masters gold after an impressive day in Qingdao. The 22-year-old became his country’s first Masters winner after a rematch of the World Championships final was not to be today with world champion Sagi Muki (ISR) picking up a rib injury during his semi-final. Read more
Kim Polling captures fourth Masters title
Dutch woman Kim Polling was at her explosive best as she defeated Abu Dhabi Grand Slam silver medallist Sanne Van Dijke (NED) to win the -70kg final. World number 12 Polling beat world number three Van Dijke by two scores without reply to maintain her rich vein of form at the end of 2019 after gracing three finals in a row on the IJF circuit. Read more
- 13 Dec 2019Soichi Hashimoto returns to glory to complete Masters hat-trick
- 13 Dec 2019Nami Nabekura upsets Agbegnenou in reverse of 2018 final
- 12 Dec 2019Kim Jin A makes history for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea
- 12 Dec 2019Ai Shishime wins the Masters at her first attempt
- 12 Dec 2019Italian starlet Manuel Lombardo aces Masters debut
- 12 Dec 2019Distria Krasniqi retains Masters crown for Kosovo
- 12 Dec 2019Ryuju Nagayama wins second Masters crown
- 12 Dec 2019IJF Masters in Qingdao last World Tour event of 2019
- 11 Dec 2019Georgian Olympic champion David Khakhaleishvili fighting for his life
- 11 Dec 2019Judo World Tour - The Globetrotting Judoka
- 10 Dec 2019Where is Russia's promise Mikhail Igolnikov
- 9 Dec 2019Russian sport heavily penalised with four year ban by WADA
- 9 Dec 2019Masters in Qingdao with promising Japanese team
