Heavyweight divisions full of surprises on the last day

Again the last day of the World Championships is full of surprises. In advance of the final block on the last day of individual competition some major surprises were noted. As for the +100kg category, Olympic Champion Lukas Krpalek (Cze) was unable to make it to the quarter final as he lost to Kim Min-Jong of Korea.

Another favourite Guram Tushishvili (GEO) got surprised by Andy Granda (CUB) who made it to the final afterall. Tushishvili though still has a chance for a medal took. Granda became the revelation and managed to win this bout to take his place for bronze against Temur Rakhimov (TJK). Granda started his career U100kg like Krpalek and Tushishvili and made the transition to +100kg. He took a fifth place at the World Championships Open category in 2017 but now secured a medal. His opponent in the final is not a big surprise, Tatsuru Saito of Japan.

His mother is witnessing today in the Humo stadium with a picture of his deceased father Hitoshi Saito who was double Olympic Champion and world champion in 1983.

Roy Meyer can still win a another World Championships medal facing Kim Kim-Jong. Temur Rakhimov will compete against Tushishvili.
The French women were among the favourites and met each-other in the semi final. Romane Dicko and Julia Tolofua clashed and Dicko reached the final against Beatriz Souza of Brazil. Souza managed to overcome Japan’s favourite, Wakaba Tomita who took a silver medal last year. Dicko will take her first World Championships medal, but the colour is quite relevant. She defeated Souza a few times although she lost to her at a Mixed team championship in 2017.

Tolofua meets Raz Hershko (ISR) for the first bronze medal, Tomita will now compete with Kim Hajun of Korea.

France is awaiting its first gold medal, Brazil can win the third of this week. Saito can add a sixth title for Japan, Cuba celebrated its last male champion in 2013.