-73kg Gold: Ishihara (JPN)
Tatsuki Ishihara had shown brilliant throwing skills throughout the day, so there was high expectation for an explosive final. But it turned out to be a battle of grips. Neither Ishihara nor Shakhram Ahadov (UZB) was able to score and in the end, the match was decided by penalties, in favor of the Japanese.
Ishihara said: "I knew the final would be a tough fight against a very strong opponent, so I made sure I was fully prepared. I was able to execute my game plan throughout the day and I'm very happy that it paid off. The -73 kg category has such a rich legacy, with so many great champions in Japan and around the world. That motivates me to keep improving, to stay disciplined and to train even harder. I'm incredibly happy to have won here in Qingdao. Now I'll enjoy this moment and celebrate with some good food.”
-81kg Gold: Tckaev (AZE)
Zelim Tckaev has a very strong uchimata and he used it twice to score waza-ari-awasete-ippon against Bernd Fasching of Austria.
Said Tckaev: “I felt excellent today. My coaches and I developed a precise strategy, leaving me mentally and physically prepared for the final. Having elite teammates and rivals in my category, like Hidayat, motivates me heavily. While Los Angeles is the long-term goal, it’s too early to look that far ahead; my absolute priority is the 2026 World Championships in Baku. I feel incredibly fortunate to be competing at home and I'm grateful to our federation for organising it. I’ve already won the Baku Grand Slam three times, so my goal now is to win the World gold in front of my family and friends. Next on my schedule are training camps, including one in Japan.”
