Shikhalizada strikes first for the Azerbaijan hosts

Budapest Grand Prix bronze medallist Nijat SHIKHALIZADA (AZE) sent the home crowd into euphoria as he denied reigning Baku Grand Slam winner Colin OATES (GBR) a successful defence of his 2014 title. OATES, 31, was penalised for passivity after 50 seconds and then for not taking a grip which SHIKHALIZADA was also penalised for.

With 43 seconds left and everything still to fight for, SHIKHALIZADA brought the entire arena to their feet with a huge ippon. The explosive Azerbaijan fighter shaped up for an ashi-waza attack and came through with a harai-goshi to win his country’s first gold medal in Baku. Even OATES applauded SHIKHALIZADA after he returned to his feet and raised the arm of the Azerbaijan ace in a great show of respect.  

SHIKHALIZADA said: “Today is a very emotional moment for me, to win my country’s first medal of the competition. The atmosphere was amazing and it energised me all day. Colin OATES (GBR) is a very tough fighter and he brought out the best in me. I look forward to facing him again and maybe once more in Baku at the European Games.”

In the first semi-final OATES resisted former European champion Sugoi URIARTE (ESP) to move one step closer to defending his 2014 title. OATES produced a trademark sumi-gaeshi to go ahead with a yuko and was penalised for going out of the area after URIARTE was given a penalty for breaking off the grip of OATES with both hands but there were no further scores. In the second semi-final former Tashkent Grand Prix bronze medallist Andraz JEREB (SLO) was beaten by SHIKHALIZADA who had a swagger all day and was brimming with confidence. The home fighter won by wazari-awasette-ippon.

The first bronze medal was won by European champion Loic KORVAL (FRA) who triumphed against JEREB with two waza-ari scores. After leaving the tatami KORVAL gave his belt away to an Azerbaijan youngster in a classy touch while teammate David LAROSE (FRA) was defeated in the second round. The second bronze medal went to world number 18 URIARTE who stopped the home country and 17-year-old newcomer Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE) from winning their first medal of the Baku Grand Slam. In his first senior IJF event HEYDAROV acquitted himself superbly and can take a lot of pride from a fifth-place finish which came from a tate-shiho-gatame from URIARTE who had too much experience for the plucky teenager.