Russian Day this Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. It was rather expected with Madina Taimazova and Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov. A little less with David Karapetyan. Though. Vice world junior champion in 2019, European junior champion in 2020, Karapetyan has only participated in three competitions since the Antalya Grand Slam in April 2021. At the beginning of June, he lost in the first round against Giacomo Gamba, son of Ezio, the boss of the Russian team. This Wednesday, this left-hander in the purest Russian style – relaxed, capable of alternating pure movements and clinches, sense of timing – carves his way to victory, beating Frank De Wit in the final on a tani -otoshi and an o-uchi-gari at the end of the fight. A victory which immediately pushes David Karapetyan as a serious candidate for the Russian Olympic selection in a category which has been looking for a leader for several years.
The other Russian victory of the day is much less surprising since it goes to Madina Taimazova, Olympic medalist in Tokyo and third at the Grand Slam in Ulaanbaatar at the end of June. The undisputed number one of the Russian team in -70kg, Taimazova won against one of the surprises of the day: the Swede Ida Eriksson – 23rd in the world all the same – who reached her first Grand Slam podium today.
In bronze at the Portuguese Grand Prix in January, the Swede still beat the Austrian Michela Polleres, vice Olympic champion, in the quarterfinals. In a very dense category, here is a new outsider who shows off her judogi in the home stretch before the Olympic Games. Third Russian medalist, the -73kg Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov is also guaranteed to be the Russian Olympic starter – if of course they are allowed to participate – continues to collect podiums and points. In bronze at the end of the afternoon, this very classic judoka who really likes to work in ne-waza, 12th in the world, signs his eighth consecutive medal in Grand Slams or Grand Prix! Only two failures for him at the 2021 and 2023 world championships. A very strong one.
And the French? Not their day though. Five entered this Thursday and four defeats in the first round for the four men: in -73kg, Joan-Benjamin Gaba against the Spaniard Jorge Cano Garcia and Hans-Jorris Ahibo against the Portuguese Thelmo Gomes, both on penalties.
In -81kg, Alpha Djalo, who returned to competition after the world championships and a shoulder operation, lost to the Emirati Nugzari Tatalashvili on a makikomi while Loic Pietri, also injured at the end of May, lost knocked to the ground by Puerto Rican Adrian Gandia.
The only female entry, the -63kg Gaétane Deberdt won against the Italian Savina Russo – disqualified for “diving” – before losing against the number 1 seed in the category, the Canadian Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard, finally victorious at the end of the day.
Very strong physically, Beauchemin-Pinard enforces the hierarchy against the Chinese Jing Tang, 38th in the world, never a medalist in either a Grand Slam or a Grand Prix until then.
A Quebec success which allows Canada to take the lead in the ranking with now two victories – Jessica Klimkait opened the gold counter yesterday – and a silver medal with Christa Deguchi. The Russians should occupy second place with today’s medals. Except that the latter do not appear in the ranking. Curious paradox.
2023-10-25 20:55:40
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