Magzhan Shamshadin makes a golden statement in Zagreb

Kazachstan’s Magzhan Shamshadin captured the gold medal at the Grand Prix in Zagreb on Friday. In the final he defeated Korea’s Kim Won-Jin. The Korean bested double European Champion Fran Garrigos in the semi final in an outstanding contest.

Shamshadin was junior world champion in 2015 but has shown little more, until his bronze medal in Tel Aviv this year. In Croatia the Kazakh benefited from a good draw and he did not miss the opportunity. In the semi-finals he overcame Frenchman Maxim Merlin by ippon.

Kim has had some rest after his semi final against Garrigos. In the final Shamshadin took the initiative in the fight with Kim, but Kim fought back. The referee handed out shido. In golden score, Shamshadin, more complete, more intelligent and more timely in this fight, concluded a glorious day with his first grand prix title and the demonstration that judo and intelligence go hand in hand.

Koga and Merlin fought for the first bronze. The difference occurred in ne-waza. The Frenchman attacked but dropped and Koga seized the moment. The first time he did not succeed but the second time he did not fail.

Sardalashvili was waiting for the European champion Garrigós to take the bronze from him. After the first attempts, Garrigós fizzled out and Sardalashvili scored ippon with sumi-gaeshi, winning his first grand prix medal.