Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir is big with three World Tour victories in 2021

At the second day of the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi Khikmatillokh Turaev illustrated what a tournament of this level really means because after eliminating a living legend such as Lasha Shavdatuashvili, he had to face in the final a man who is on his way to becoming one of the greatest. Tsend-Ochir was second in the world rankings, with bronze at the Tokyo Games and is a multi-medallist in 2021, including two golds, from Tashkent and Tbilisi. He still does not reach the dimension of Shavdatuashvili but he is getting closer.

Lasha Shavdatuashvili doesn't need a business card as the Georgian is current world champion, Olympic runner-up and has won it all. With those credentials he performed in Abu Dhabi and reached the semi-finals, which is logical. There was nothing more because he lost against the Uzbek Khikmatillokh Turaev, a rock who saw the opportunity to include a new notch in his rifle and not just because Shavdatuashvili loses few times.

With the Georgian out of the final, it remained to be seen if Turaev could surpass the new Mongolian sensation. Tsend-Ochir is very agile, very fast and has learned to bide his time like a veteran hardened in a thousand battles. He first launched with ura-nage for waza-ari and a few seconds later he concluded via osaekomi. Tsend-Ochir has become a complete judoka and yes, he is doing much more than approaching the top because from now on he is the new world number one.

“I am very happy to participate in the last edition of 2021 IJF Grand Slam Abu Dhabi. I made it a goal after the Olympic Games to win the gold in Abu Dhabi. My IJF ranking is number one now and I would like to dedicate this achievement to my family, especially my new born baby. Thank you very much to all IJF members and staff and to all judo fans around the world,” were his first words.

Armen Agaian won the bronze. The Russian defeated Tajiko Somon Makhmadbekov by ippon with a monumental ouchi-gari, also in golden score.

Shavdatuashvili won the second bronze. After an exhausting day with all his bouts decided in golden score, his fight against Slovenian Martin Hojak was anything but a mere formality. Another golden score but bronze at the end of a very long road.