Uzbekistan strikes gold on opening day

There’s no let up on the IJF world judo tour, as after just one weekend of rest we’re back in Tashkent in the judo mad country of Uzbekistan.

Transcript

00:00 There`s no let up on the IJF World Judo Tour as after just one weekend of rest, we`re back

00:07 in Tashkent in the judo mad country of Uzbekistan. The UMA Arena place hosted this year`s Grand

00:13 Slam with a raucous crowd in attendance from the get-go.

00:21 In the under 48 kilo class, individual neutral athlete Sabina Giliusova overcame Abiba Abushakinova

00:27 of Kazakhstan in golden score. The two both went for the win, but Giliusova expertly directed

00:33 her opponent for the Ippon. Harvest Group CEO Almaz Alsinov was on hand to award the

00:39 medals.

00:43 There was anticipation in the air for the home crowd in the under 60 kilo category with

00:47 home fighter Dustin Rusiev contesting his first World Judo Tour final. There he met

00:52 Georgian Georgi Sardalashvili, but the roars of the crowd served him well as he took his

00:57 chance in groundwork rolling and then pinning for the win.

01:01 He was awarded his medal by Adkam Ikramov, minister of sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

01:15 First of all, thank you very much to all supporters here today. It helped me a lot. In the future,

01:20 we`ll do our best to fulfill the expectations of the Uzbek nation by continuing to win gold

01:25 medals.

01:29 The crowd were once again making themselves heard for the under 52 kilo final as surprise

01:34 package 20-year-old home fighter Gorkaya Duryaeva was ready to secure her first ever WJT medal

01:41 after blitzing her way to the gold medal contest. But seasoned French judoka Amodine Bouchard

01:47 showed her experience to edge a close battle and sweep her opponent aside to take the title.

01:53 They were awarded their medals by Uzbekistan NOC General Secretary Oybek Kasimov.

01:58 My second time in Tashkent, the first time was for world championship and I really love

02:02 the public here because they live judo. And every time when they see some beautiful judo,

02:08 they scream and you know. So, I like this kind of vibes and I really like to fight here

02:15 in Tashkent.

02:16 Nurali Emomali took the top spots in the under 66 kilo class. After countering for an early

02:22 Bazari, he won as Baruch Shmayalov was disqualified for failing to engage. The medals were awarded

02:27 by Ismail Mamadzor, Tajikistan Judo Federation President.

02:32 And age-old judo rivalry saw France's Priscilla Nieto take the victory over Aruka Funakubo

02:37 of Japan in the under 57 kilo category. She was awarded the gold medal by IGF education

02:43 and coaching director Mr. Mohamed Miridja.

02:46 As well as the medals, the local fighters produced a great display of skillful judo,

02:50 drilling the passionate support with some spectacular Ippon Judo.

02:54 We'll be back for more action in Tashkent on Saturday.

02:57 [MUSIC PLAYING]