O-uchi-gari Decides a Dynamic Asian Para Games Judo Final

Bexultan Kulmurza of Kazakhstan produced the decisive moment in the J2M -81 kg final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, using a powerful O-uchi-gari to defeat Donghoon Kim of Korea.

Both finalists had impressed on their route to the medal contest, throwing their opponents on the way to the final. Their meeting brought active, dynamic Judo from the opening exchanges, but no score separated them until Kulmurza found his timing. His O-uchi-gari put Kim cleanly on his back and secured the gold medal.

Kulmurza’s perfectly timed O-uchi-gari broke the final open.

Uzbekistan also enjoyed a strong second day. In J1M -81 kg, Shokhrukh Mamedov started quickly against surprise finalist Shokhrukh Nazarov of Tajikistan, recording two yuko scores inside the first minute before taking the title.

The J1M -95 kg final was an all-Uzbek contest between Mukhammad Abdukulov and Turgun Abdiev. Neither athlete had begun the day among the top four seeds, but both powered through the draw. Abdukulov was the more active judoka in the final and held a three-score advantage entering the last minute, earning gold ahead of Abdiev.

Kumushkhon Khodjaeva added another Uzbek gold in J2W -60 kg. After Jianan Wang of China had defeated Japan’s Junko Hirose in the semi-final, Khodjaeva controlled the final in ne-waza. She secured a pin for the full 20 seconds to take the title, with Wang claiming silver.

Before the final block, spectators watched an Itsutsu-no-Kata demonstration that brought a quiet, focused atmosphere to the venue. The five medal contests that followed delivered technical finishes, upsets and a memorable final throw from Kulmurza.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation