Abdul Malik Umayev won the under 81kg bronze medal at the Antalya Judo Grand Slam tournament in Turkey on Saturday.
For his first participation in a Grand Slam event, Abdul Malik Umayev, 21 years old and 156th in the world in his category, surprised the Ukrainian Hievorh Manukian (IJF 54), 23 years old, with the golden score by placing an ippon after 16 seconds in extension.
The Belgian had already made a strong impression by placing a fine attack after less than a minute of combat, rewarded with a waza-ari. The Ukrainian had equalized on another waza-ari 51 seconds from the end of the fight. Very solid and coached by Cédric Taymans, Abdul Malik Umayev then won with the golden score.
World No.1 in the category, Matthias Casse had been beaten in the repechage earlier in the day.
On Friday, Ellen Salens’ tournament lasted only one fight. The 25-year-old Belgian, 38th in the world in less than 48 kg, was beaten from the start by the 19-year-old Turkish, Merve Azak (IJF 101), junior world champion in 2019, who surprised her with a waza- ari placed 47 seconds from the end of the fight.
Sunday, Toma Nikiforov, 29, world number 4 in less than 100 kg, will be the last Belgian judoka to step on the Turkish tatami this weekend.
