Paris Grand Slam Overview

Paris Grand Slam Overview

American Judo System

-48kg: Wakana Koga (JPN)
The category was largely dominated by French athletes, with three of the four judokas on the podium being French. But at the top of the podium was a Japanese, Wakana Koga, who had won the final, against Mélanie Legoux Clément, with a hold-down.

Final Results
1. KOGA Wakana (JPN)
2. LEGOUX CLEMENT Melanie (FRA)
3. PONT Blandine (FRA)
3. BOUKLI Shirine (FRA)
5. COSTA Catarina (POR)
5. NIKOLIC Milica (SRB)
7. STOJADINOV Andrea (SRB)
7. SCUTTO Assunta (ITA)


American Judo System

-60kg: Balabay Aghayev (AZE)
Among the top seeds of the category, only Ramazan Abdulaev (RUS) managed to reach the final, but the he was upset by Balabay Aghayev (AZE), a relative unknown.

Final Results
1. AGHAYEV Balabay (AZE)
2. ABDULAEV Ramazan (RUS)
3. ENKHTAIVAN, Ariunbold (MGL)
3. VALADIER PICARD Romain (FRA)
5. KOGA Genki (JPN)
5. ENKHTAIVAN Sumiyabazar (MGL)
7. VERGNES Richard (FRA)
7. MERLIN Maxime (FRA)


American Judo System

-52kg: Gefen Primo (ISR)
Gefen Primo (ISR) defeated home favorite Astride Gneto (FRA) in the final with a counter technique in a long golden score period.

Final Results
1. PRIMO Gefen (ISR)
2. GNETO Astride (FRA)
3. BALLHAUS Mascha (GER)
3. BISHRELT Khorloodoi (MGL)
5. KUZNETSOVA Alesya (RUS)
5. DEVICTOR Chloe (FRA)
7. POLIKARPOVA Anastasia (RUS)
7. DEGUCHI Kelly (CAN)


American Judo System

-66kg: Ryoma Tanaka (JPN)
The -66kg category was dominated by Japan and France, with the final being an all-Japan affair and the two bronze medals being won by the French. After a very close match, Ryoma Tanaka threw his compatriot Taikoh Fujisaka with a crowd-pleasing hip technique in Golden Score.

Final Results
1. TANAKA Ryoma (JPN)
2. FUJISAKA Taikoh (JPN)
3. CAZORLA Orlando (FRA)
3. KHYAR Walide (FRA)
5. BATTOGTOKH Erkhembayar (MGL)
5. VIERU Denis (MDA)
7. NIETO CHINARRO Adrian (ESP)
7. BAYANMUNKH Narmandakh (MGL)


American Judo System

-57kg: Haruka Funakubo (JPN)
Groundwork specialist Haruka Funakubo, who has a turnover named after her, tried to use her favorite ground technique on Caroline Fritze (GER) in the final but when the German foiled that, she switched to ude-garami instead to win the match. 

Final Results
1. FUNAKUBO Haruka (JPN)
2. FRITZE Caroline (GER)
3. LIPARTELIANI Eteri (GEO)
3. LIBEER Mina (BEL)
5. KAJZER Kaja (SLO)
5. MOKDAR Faiza (FRA)
7. FAWAZ Martha (FRA)
7. GNETO Priscilla (FRA)


American Judo System

-73kg: Kenshi Harada (JPN)
The home crowd had someone to root for in the final where Theo Riquin faced Kenshi Harada (JPN). It was a close match but in Golden Score, Harada managed to secure a pin with kata-gatame for ippon. 

Final Results
1. HARADA Kenshi (JPN)
2. RIQUIN Theo (FRA)
3. HEYDAROV Hidayat (AZE)
3. RAICU Alexandru (ROU)
5. CHAINE Guillaume (FRA)
5. MAKHMADBEKOV Somon (TJK)
7. IARTCEV Denis (RUS)
7. PROKOPCHUK Evgenii (RUS)


American Judo System

-63kg: Barbara Timo (POR)
Barbara Timo (POR) was the surprise winner in this category. She was a World Silver Medalist in the 2019 Tokyo World Championships but back then, she fought at -70kg. In Paris, she had dropped down a weight to -63kg and this proved to be the correct decision as she ended her day with a gold medal.

Final Results
1. TIMO Barbara (POR)
2. RENSHALL Lucy (GBR)
3. DEKETER Manon (FRA)
3. SZYMANSKA Angelika (POL)
5. COBAN Sappho (GER)
5. VALKOVA Ekaterina (RUS)
7. CABANA PEREZ Cristina (ESP)
7. ZACHOVA Renata (CZE)


American Judo System

-81kg: Takeshi Sasaki (JPN)
It was the kind of final everyone loves to see, between two powerful and dynamic players: Tato Grigalashvili (GEO) and Takeshi Sasaki (JPN). As strong as the Georgian was, it was the Japanese who proved to be the superior player, throwing his opponent firstly with a fine reverse seoi-nage and then with uchimata-makikomi for waza-ari-awasete-ippon.

Final Results
1. SASAKI Takeshi (JPN)
2. GRIGALASHVILI Tato (GEO)
3. GERELTUYA Bolor-Ochir (MGL)
3. FUJIWARA Sotaro (JPN)
5. GNAMIEN Tizie (FRA)
5. CASSE Matthias (BEL)
7. GRAMKOW Tim (GER)
7. HEIJMAN Jim (NED)


American Judo System

-70kg: Saki Niioze (JPN)
The final was between reigning World Champion Barbara Matic (CRO) and Saki Niizoe (JPN). Like many Japanese female players, Niizoe was excellent on the ground and it was with groundwork – a hold-down that started off as a strangle – that she defeated Matic to win the gold medal.

Final Results
1. NIIZOE Saki (JPN)
2. MATIC Barbara (CRO)
3. JAGER Hilde (NED)
3. ONO Yoko (JPN)
5. SANTANA Ellen (BRA)
5. PETERSEN POLLARD Kelly (GBR)
7. YEATS-BROWN Katie-Jemima (GBR)
7. TSERENDULAM Enkhchimeg (MGL)


American Judo System

-90kg: Kenta Nagasawa (JPN)
It was a close final between Khusen Khalmurzaev (RUS) Kenta Nagasawa (JPN), but it was the Japanese who came up tops with an opportunistic counter technique in the dying seconds of the match. 

Final Results
1. NAGASAWA Kenta (JPN)
2. KHALMURZAEV Khusen (RUS)
3. EGUTIDZE Anri (POR)
3. MAISURADZE Luka (GEO)
5. MURAO Sanshiro (JPN)
5. MATHIEU Alexis (FRA)
7. BORCHASHVILI Wachid (AUT)
7. DIAO Abderahmane (SEN)


American Judo System

-78kg: Aleksandra Babintseva (RUS)
Aleksandra Babintseva (RUS) defeated Rika Takayama (JPN) with an unorthodox belt-grab kosoto-gake. “It was a tactical contest. The key was the kumi-kata but I was well prepared for that. To win in Paris against a Japanese opponent, with a massive ippon, is so far the best achievement of my career,” she said.

Final Results
1. BABINTSEVA Aleksandra (RUS)
2. TAKAYAMA Rika (JPN)
3. LANIR Inbar (ISR)
3. MALZAHN Luise (GER)
5. STEVENSON Karen (NED)
5. BOEHM Alina (GER)
7. POWELL Natalie (GBR)
7. CAMARA Sama Hawa (FRA)


American Judo System

-100kg: Arman Adamian (RUS)
Asley Gonzales (ROU) who formerly fought for Cuba, did well to make it to the final, where he met up against Arman Adamian (RUS). The Russian floored him with a superb uchimata into tai-otoshi into kosoto-gake combination. Said Adamian: “I had to win here because it is the most prestigious tournament in the world. Every judoka dreams of winning here. Plus, the Olympic Games will be held here in three years so this is the place to be and win.”

Final Results
1. ADAMIAN Arman (RUS)
2. GONZALEZ Asley (ROU)
3. SANEBLIDZE Onise (GEO)
3. CATHARINA Simeon (NED)
5. KUMRIC Zlatko (CRO)
5. OLIVAR Cedric (FRA)
7. DELVERT Clement (FRA)
7. LIMA Lucas (BRA)


American Judo System

+78kg: Raz Hershko (ISR)
Though Raz Hershko (ISR) was smaller than her opponent, Lea Fontaine (FRA), she proved to be the better (and more tactical) player in the final. There was no score but the French player lost after she incurred her third penalty.

Final Results
1. HERSHKO Raz (ISR)
2. FONTAINE Lea (FRA)
3. TOLOFUA Julia (FRA)
5. M BAIRO Anne Fatoumata (FRA)
5. NUNES, Rochele (POR)
7. KORO Essohanam Noeline (TOG)
7. AMARSAIKHAN Adiyasuren (MGL)


American Judo System

+100kg: Inal Tasoev (RUS)
Cyrille Maret (FRA) was France’s last hope to secure a gold medal in this championship but he got thrown and later pinned by Inal Tasoev’s (RUS), who proved that he is one of the best heavyweights in the world today.

Final Results
1. TASOEV Inal (RUS)
2. MARET Cyrille (FRA)
3. SPIJKERS Jur (NED)
3. TERHEC Joseph (FRA)
5. KOKAURI Ushangi (AZE)
5. ODKHUU Tsetsentsengel (MGL)
7. KONOVAL Christian (USA)
7. NDIAYE Mbagnick (SEN)

American Judo System

Blog posts

View all
US National Team FORCE Tours Europe & Japan

US National Team FORCE Tours Europe & Japan

An Unforgettable European Tour & Judo Experience USA Judo National Team FORCE out of Jimmy Pedro’s Judo Center in Wakefield, Massachusetts is currently traveling across Europe, showcasing their...

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Reliving the Triumphs and Challenges of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games The 2024 Paris Olympic Games was a thrilling display of athletic prowess, strategy, and determination by every Judoka who took t...

Remarkable Dedication For Better Value

Remarkable Dedication For Better Value

It was a busy weekend at the Slovenj Gradec Junior European Cup 2024, where amongst the 34 nations attended, three of those are from the Pan-American region: Argentina, Canada and the USA. On the ...