Tato Grigalashvili claims third consecutive World Title

On the third day of the Abu Dhabi World Championships 2024, Tato Grigalashvili of Georgia secured his third consecutive world title in the -81kg category, cementing his legacy in judo history. Grigalashvili's opponent in the final was not his familiar rival Matthias Casse (BEL), but Timur Arbuzov, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete. Arbuzov had already made waves by defeating Casse in the second round, proving to be a formidable challenger.

The final match between Grigalashvili and Arbuzov was an electrifying encounter, characterized by the technical prowess and agility of both athletes. The early minutes were intense, with several frantic exchanges and a clash of heads that required Grigalashvili to receive treatment twice. Despite the setbacks, Grigalashvili maintained his composure. With just 10 seconds left on the clock, he executed a decisive ura-nage to score a waza-ari, securing his third world championship gold and becoming the first Georgian judoka to win three world titles at the age of 24.

Path to the Final

Grigalashvili's journey to the final was anything but easy. He started in round two against Timo Cavelius (GER), scoring waza-ari with tai-otoshi and securing the win after Cavelius received a third shido. In round three, Grigalashvili faced Vedat Albayrak (TUR), who had previously defeated him in the 2023 European Championships final. After a grueling contest, Grigalashvili emerged victorious in golden score.

His quarter-final bout was against Somon Makhmadbekov (TJK), a former junior world champion. Grigalashvili managed to throw Makhmadbekov with o-uchi-gari in golden score to advance. In the semi-final, he faced Joonhwan Lee (KOR), another tough competitor who had previously bested him. Grigalashvili secured his spot in the final with a waza-ari from uki-otoshi with just 25 seconds remaining.

Bronze Medal Contests

In the repechage, Daniel Boltaboev (UZB) defeated Fasching (AUT) to set up a bronze medal contest with Joonhwan Lee (KOR). Lee displayed tactical superiority, throwing Boltaboev with kata-guruma and ippon-seoi-nage to win by waza-ari-awasete-ippon, earning his second consecutive world bronze medal.

The second bronze medal contest saw Somon Makhmadbekov (TJK) face Dimitri Gochilaidze (GEO). Makhmadbekov utilized o-soto-otoshi to score waza-ari in golden score, capturing Tajikistan's second world championship medal ever.

Timur Arbuzov's journey was remarkable. Making his mark on the IJF World Judo Tour in Ulaanbaatar in 2023, Arbuzov quickly rose through the ranks. His third-round victory over Matthias Casse was a highlight, featuring strong ne-waza sequences and tachi-waza attacks. Casse was ultimately disqualified for repeated gripping infringements.

Arbuzov continued his impressive run, defeating seasoned judokas and showcasing his technical skills to reach the final. His performance in Abu Dhabi highlighted his potential as a future star in the -81kg category.

Tato Grigalashvili's third consecutive world title at just 24 years old is a remarkable achievement, solidifying his place among the sport's elite. The emergence of Timur Arbuzov as a formidable competitor adds another exciting dimension to the -81kg category. As the judo world looks ahead to the Paris Olympic Games, the performances in Abu Dhabi have set the stage for thrilling weeks to come.