Shohei Ono steals the show at second day in Düsseldorf

Shohei Ono is back! In a repetition of the Olympic final of Rio, this time Ono convincingly captured the gold at the Grand Slam in Düsseldorf. The Japanese men rule in this category but it’s clear that also Rustam Orujov is at an unprecedented level. Not even 90 seconds it took before Ono struck by ippon. Ono was the showmaker today in the ISS Dome.

The home crowd witnessed some awesome judo contests today with Ono as sensation. He had to win his six matches for the gold and it wasn’t always easy. Anthony Zingg gave a good match in the quarter final, but against against Ganbaatar Odbayar Ono showed his power again, just like in the final with little time on the clock he scored ippon.

Andreja Leski of Slovenia was the surprising winner… and still Slovenia. Where number one seed Tina Trstenjak was expected, it was her country woman Leski who got the attention. Trstenjak lost early to Maylin del Toro Carvajal but Leski reached the semi final and defeated the experienced Ketleyn Quadros. In the final Leski overcame Megumi Tsugane, who took another silver medal. Leski was Slovenia’s golden girl.

Yoko Ono, a second Ono today, won gold U70kg. In the final she bested Barbara Matic in oseikomi. The home crowd cheered for the bronze medal of Szaundra Diedrich who surprised with an excellent day after getting back from an injury. She warmed up in Belgium recently and was surprisingly good, but not fit, she now converted with a medal at World level. European Champion Sanne van Dijke caught bronze against Marlene Galandi in an attractive match.

A second bronze for Germany when Dominic Ressel scored against Matthias Casse of Belgium. However the gold U81kg was for Saeid Mollaei who this progressed again to a gold medal at a Grand Slam. He was extremely happy reaching the final, but in the final against Frenchman Alpha Oumar Djalo he dominated the contest but couldn’t come to a score, until 30 second for the regular time and grabbed gold. A big success for Iran.