Mansur Lorsanov wins second career Grand Slam

In the -90kg category at the Grand Slam in Dushanbe, Neutral Athlete Mansur Lorsanov seized the opportunity to secure an Olympic ticket. In the final showdown against the resilient Czech athlete David Klammert, the action was intense from the start. With both judoka showing great determination, the match went into golden score with just one shido each. The outcome hung in the balance, with Klammert attempting a ko-soto-gake, only for Lorsanov to counter brilliantly, driving his opponent onto his side for a decisive waza-ari and clinching the gold medal after a suspenseful period.

Former world champion Nemanja Majdov (SRB) entered the competition as the number one seed, aiming to secure vital points for Olympic qualification. However, despite his strong position, he was defeated by David Klammert (CZE) in the early stages, settling for the silver medal.

Klammert's journey to the final was marked by clear momentum, including a tactical victory over the host country's Muhammadjon Abdujalilzoda in the semi-final. Meanwhile, Majdov faced Juyeop Han (KOR) in the bronze medal match but was penalized three times, ultimately conceding victory to the Korean judoka.

For Theodoros Tselidis (GRE), it was a challenging day, but he still had an opportunity to claim a podium finish. Facing Muhammadjon Abdujalilzoda (TJK) in the bronze medal match, Tselidis initially seemed poised for success with his tokui-waza earning him a waza-ari. However, Abdujalilzoda rallied, executing a low tsuri-goshi technique for an ippon victory, securing his first-ever international medal and crucial ranking points.

Despite the disappointment, Tselidis had shown his potential earlier in the tournament, defeating Sami Chouchi (BEL) before being eliminated by Juyeop Han (KOR) in the subsequent round. While the competition didn't end as he hoped, Tselidis remains determined to continue his climb in the world rankings.