Mongolian judoka B. Gankhaich becomes Grand Slam Champion
ULAANBAATAR – Gankhaich Bold claimed her first Grand Slam title at the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam, earning Mongolia its first gold medal of the tournament.
In a dramatic final match, B.Gankhaich faced Japan's Kirari Yamaguchi, Asian champion and winner of both the Zagreb Grand Prix and the Tashkent Grand Slam. After a grueling 10-minute contest, B.Gankhaich emerged victorious in golden score overtime.What made the win even more remarkable was that B.Gankhaich fought through the final with an injured arm.
This triumph marks a powerful comeback for the young judoka, who had been sidelined for over a year due to a serious shoulder injury. After a long recovery, she returned to the tatami and quickly reestablished himself on the world stage.
Though she narrowly missed a podium finish at a previous Ulaanbaatar Grand Prix, this Grand Slam victory is sweet redemption, and a moment of pride for Mongolian judo fans.
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