Judo Grand Slam: Gold Rush for Four Nations on Day 2 in Astana
It's Day 2 of the 2025 Judo Grand Slam in Astana. A city rich with both beautiful architecture and passionate judo fans. The arena was filled with spectators ready to see what was sure to be another day of exciting judo.
In attendance was president of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Alongside IJF President Mr Marius Vizer.
The -73kg final saw 2023 world champion Nils Stump of Switzerland up against Karbek Naguchev of the UAE.
With seconds to go, Stump executed his signature technique, uchi-mata, getting a score, and then holding out for the win.
IJF General Treasurer Mr Naser AL TAMIMI was on hand to award the medals.
We asked Stump what it was like to fight in Kazakhstan.
Yes it's nice I like it, you feel they love judo. They like judo, they scream really loud and a lot, and really it's a nice atmosphere, it's perfect.In the -63kg category Melkia AUCHECORNE of France earned victory in a hard fought contest.
She was awarded her medal by IJF Guest Mr Elliot MOSHOKE.
I felt good because Kazakh people are really welcoming and I felt they were here for watching us, for encouraging us, and it was really great.
At -70kg Giorgia STANGHERLIN of Italy competed in her first Grand Slam final against Yingying FENG of China.
STANGHERLIN beautifully countered her opponent's attack, landing her in the perfect position to finish the fight with a hold down.
The medals were awarded by CIFP Secretary General The Honorable Sunil Sabharwal.
The -81kg saw Japanese 2x Olympic champion NAGASE Takanori looking to even the score against Lee Joonhwan, with the Korean having a 2-1 lead in their head to head.
But it was LEE Who took the gold In spectacular fashion.
He was awarded his medal by IJF Development Commission Member Mr Khaled Barakat IBRAHIM.The local fans were treated to an incredible day of judo with bronzes for both Yesset KUANOV and Abylaikhan ZHUBANAZAR.
The ippons kept coming from the home athletes, with a great mix of technically brilliant groundwork and eye-catching throws, the passionate crowd had plenty to celebrate!
It's been a memorable day of Judo from the middleweights. Join us tomorrow, for the final day in Astana, the heavyweights!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Rory McIlroy ducks media after rough first round in US Open
OAKMONT, Pa. — Two players many expected to play well this week, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, flopped in the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday. McIlroy, who has lost his mojo and motivation since winning the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam in April, shot a 4-over-par 74, and Lowry struggled worse, finishing with a 9-over 79. Lowry not only entered the week in good form, with a couple runner-up finishes this season, but he was the runner-up the last time the U.S. Open was played at Oakmont in 2016. McIlroy, who has finished tied for 47th at the PGA and missed the cut last week in Canada, seemingly was given a gift by the USGA when it paired him with Lowry, his close friend and fellow Irishman. McIlroy played well early, shooting a 2-under 33 on his front nine, which was the back nine since he started on No. 10. But he got sloppy on the final nine, shooting a 6-over 41 with bogeys on Nos. 1, 3, 6 and 7 and a double on 8, his second-to-last hole. Afterward, McIlroy refused to speak to reporters, a stunt he pulled after all four rounds at the PGA last month. Rory McIlroy didn't talk to the media after shooting a first-round 74 at the U.S. Open. AP He not only refused to come out of the locker room to speak to reporters, but he declined a request by the USGA simply to agree to a couple of statements about his round. Lightning struck early Thursday morning, and it came from a rather unlikely source. Maxwell Moldovan, a 23-year-old qualifier from Ohio, began the day with a hole-out eagle on the first hole, immediately getting to 2-under-par. 'It was a cool feeling,' he said afterward. 'You never really draw up your first hole that way. You kind of try to go fairway, green, two-putt and get out of there.' Moldovan said he hit an 8-iron 191 yards. 'I couldn't really see it, but I heard people start cheering, and then I walked down the hill, and I saw it go in and everybody's hands go up,' he said. When he realized the ball had gone in, Moldovan raised his arms in the air. 'God is good,' he said. 'I just pointed up to heaven above, thank God, because I only hit the shot. He let it go in.' Matt Vogt, the 34-year-old dentist who grew up near Oakmont, caddied at the club for five years and made it into the field as a qualifier, struck the first shot of the tournament with his 6:45 a.m. tee time. He finished with a 12-over-par 82. 'I hope that I represented the city, Oakmont, with pride today,' Vogt said. 'All this has been incredible. I don't want this to be about me this week. I just hope to bring a lot of, I guess, joy to the city. It means a ton. It means a ton to hit that first tee ball. Matt Vogt watches his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the U.S. Open. Getty Images 'Right now, playing poorly really stings,' he went on. 'I made some really bad mental errors early on, and it's hard out here because you can't make physical and mental errors. You get behind the eight ball here, and honestly, your head starts spinning … and it just gets away from you. 'Honestly, I came in with such optimism for this golf course, but it is so hard. It's just so, so hard. In the moment, you feel like you get punched in the face, but ultimately, I'd say it was fun. I'm trying to have a silver lining on shooting 82.' Phil Mickelson, 54, is the only player in the 156-man field who played in the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Mickelson has the third-most sub-par rounds in U.S. Open history with 26. One of them was not Thursday as he shot a 4-over 74. Si Woo Kim posted the second-lowest score of the morning wave, at 2-under par. He didn't see that round coming after playing practice rounds earlier this week. 'I played three nine-hole [rounds] Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and I don't even know what I'm doing on the course,' he said. 'I was kind of hitting good, but feel like this course is too hard for me. I had no expectation, but I played great today.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Carlos Alcaraz sends gracious message to Jannik Sinner after epic French Open final
The post Carlos Alcaraz sends gracious message to Jannik Sinner after epic French Open final appeared first on ClutchPoints. Carlos Alcaraz won his second consecutive French Open on Sunday with an epic five-set victory over Jannik Sinner on the clay courts of Roland Garros. After losing the first two sets and facing three championship points in the fourth set, Alcaraz ended up lifting the trophy in an incredible 4-6 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 victory. Advertisement The final lasted five hours and 29 minutes, the second-longest major final ever. It only trails the five-hour, 53-minute Australian Open final in 2012 between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. After the epic affair was over, Alcaraz had a nice message for Sinner during the trophy ceremony. 'Jannik, it is amazing the level you have,' Alcaraz said. 'Congratulations for an amazing two weeks, an amazing tournament. To you, your team, I know the hard work you're putting in every day, it is huge. Honestly, I know how hard you're chasing this tournament, every tournament, I'm sure you're going to be champion not once but many times. It's a privilege to share the court with you at every tournament, making history with you.' Sinner and Alcaraz have already played their fair share of classics during their careers, but this one easily tops the list. It was the first Grand Slam final between the two young champions, and will go down as one of the best matches in the history of tennis. Advertisement Once again, Alcaraz came through in the clutch when the lights were the brightest. He has still only lost one fifth set in his career and now has his first comeback from two sets down. The Spaniard has also never lost a major final, improving to 5-0 in the final match of the biggest tournaments. Only Roger Federer, who won his first seven, has a better record in major finals to start his career. This match stamped these two as the two best players currently in men's tennis. After all of the epic battles that they have waged against each other over the last few years, they finally have a classic in a Grand Slam final to look back on. And not only was it an epic marathon, but it is one they may never be able to top no matter how hard they try. Related: Carlos Alcaraz grabs attention with Grand Slam celly with ball kids Related: French Open news: Carlos Alcaraz joins Novak Djokovic company with comeback heroics
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Carlos Alcaraz completes historic comeback to win French Open over Jannik Sinner
The post Carlos Alcaraz completes historic comeback to win French Open over Jannik Sinner appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 French Open finished with easily the best match of the tournament, and one of the best matches of all time. No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz came back from two sets down to knock off No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6. Advertisement Alcaraz lost the first two sets and was down a break early in the third before coming back to send the match into a fourth set. In that fourth set, Sinner led 5-3 and had three championship points on the Alcaraz serve, but the Spaniard saved all three and held. He broke Sinner's serve to 15 in the next game to extend the match before taking the fourth set with a masterful tiebreak, winning seven of the last eight points of the set. At the beginning of the fifth set, Sinner seemed to gas out physically and Alcaraz broke serve in the first game of the set. However, Sinner broke back with Alcaraz serving for the title, sending the match into a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Alcaraz ascended to a different plane. He crushed winner after winner, winning the 10-point buster 10-2 to secure the title. This is Alcaraz's fifth major title and his second consecutive at Roland Garros after beating Alexander Zverev in five sets in the final last year. He improves to 5-0 in major finals, a streak to start a career only equaled by Roger Federer (who won his first seven). Advertisement Sinner, a three-time major champion, loses the first Grand Slam final of his career after winning his first three (two at the Australian Open, one at the U.S. Open). He will remain the No. 1-ranked player in the world, but Alcaraz is gaining on him quickly in that department. The first Grand Slam final between the two best players of the next generation did not disappoint, and now all of the focus turns to Wimbledon where Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion. Related: French Open news: Carlos Alcaraz joins Novak Djokovic company with comeback heroics Related: Carlos Alcaraz sends gracious message to Jannik Sinner after epic French Open final
