Lightweight Ayub Bliev wins first Grand Slam

Ayub Bliev was in particularly good shape in Antalya. The final therefore pitted Bliev and Luka Mkheidze against each other. It looked to be tight and it was. Neither Bliev nor Mkheidze could throw. They were close several times but close is not enough. It was a strong kumi-kata battle accompanied by difficult sequences on the floor, especially for the French judoka who was caught once with a pin, but was able to escape. The golden score period started at the same pace but after a second kata-guruma attempt from Mkheidze, Bliev countered with a te-waza to score waza-ari and take the gold.

In the semi final Bliev did not give Emiel Jaring a chance, opening the doors wide to the final with a magnificent seoi-otoshi in golden score.

Frenchman Luka Mkheidze attracted all eyes. The Tokyo 2021 Olympic bronze medalist is in the last part of his preparation for a Games at home. Serious and focused, Mkheidze won his first contest against Youssry Samy (EGY) either a very low seoi-otoshi for a waza-ari. In the next round he defeated Yunus Emre Esenboga (TUR). After scoring waza-ari, Luka Mkheidze pushed his opponent to make a mistake, the latter being disqualified. Two waza-ari scores later confirmed the fate of his next opponent, Tsogt-Ochir Byambajav (MGL). In the semi-final it was Tornike Tsjakadoea (NED) who gave in to the French steamroller. The second Dutch lightweight, unique in the IJF World Judo Tour since 2009.

Turkiye had the chance of a medal thanks to Salih Yildiz (TUR) who faced Tornike Tsjakadoea (NED) and the Turkish judoka transformed his chance into real bronze after his opponent was penalised a third time in golden score. The bronze medal was for Salih Yildiz and for Türkiye.

The second bronze medal contest was between Tsogt-Ochir Byambajav (MGL) and Emiel Jaring (NED). 2 minutes and 16 seconds into golden score, after a rough kumi-kata battle, Emiel Jaring eventually scored a waza-ari with kata-guruma. The bronze medal was for the Netherlands.

Yung Wei Yang's 2024 season does not live up to his expectations, much less his results. 3rd in Portugal, 5th in Paris, he is still looking for a second wind, the breath which allowed him to reach first place in the world ranking. Yang nevertheless remains world number 4 and as such, he was top seed in Antalya. Unfortunately this was not enough and he was eliminated in the second round by later winner Ayub Bliev.